Midge Ure’s Catalogue: The Hits Tour landed at Scarborough Spa on Thursday, December 5th, with India Electric Co. opening the show.
Tonight’s support band are also Midge Ure’s band, I learn from a helpful member of Spa staff; indeed, rather than a set of purposely assembled session musicians, here a pre-formed band is the backing, so it is delightful that they get to perform in their own right as the opener. India Electric Co. are versatile multi-instrumentalists; we get mandolin, guitar and beautiful vocals from Cole Stacey; violin, keys and guitars – sometimes paired at the same time – from Joseph O’Keeffe, and drums, from Russell Field, completing this skilful three-piece. Standout tracks from their compact set are Better Unsaid, with a fun funky vibe, and Glass Houses. They also give a commendable take on the Chris Isaak hit, Wicked Game. They are charming and affably humorous in their stage chat. It definitely benefits the tone of the headline set that these aren’t just individuals only brought together for the purpose of the tour.
Midge Ure’s set starts with Passing Strangers, but strangers soon become friends as the set continues. After a trio of back to back songs, he takes a moment to speak, revealing that he is recovering from ‘man flu’; he apologises for the fact that this could lead to some unusual ranges in his vocals – saying he might vary between ‘a demented Noddy Holder and Kate Bush’. In the event, it’s barely noticeable – perhaps occasional dips in power output, but the tonal quality of his voice is truly remarkable – even more so, given the circumstance.
I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Midge Ure ahead of the Catalogue tour, and two things stood out to me from that conversation. One was Midge’s humbling, honest assertions about human fragility and why we need to look out for each other; this philosophy is borne out in the realisation of the tour itself; when he performs The Maker in a pared down acoustic section he talks about despots pushing us to the verge of world war three; but the section of songs here is so full of beauty, musically and visually, that it lifts the soul.
The other facet that stood out was that touring and performing was his recreation and never felt like work; for him, this was his equivalent of a ski trip or golfing rounds. Midge’s joy is most evident when he is in full guitar impresario mode, or when he is closely aligned with his band for moments that hint at a great bond born from the fun of touring together. There is also a charm to the chats, such as humour in the telling of how weird it is to see Top of the Pops reruns still being shown – comparing it to your awkward adolescent photos being shared with your neighbours.
Drama abounds – 1980 Ultravox track, Sleepwalk, is steeped in red light and vampiric undertones; the relish is evident in playing his guitar during the equally haunting cover, The Supernatural, a song he grew up listening to as a lad in Glasgow; he claims to have a penchant for the miserable, but it is actually the triumph over misery that comes across in the end. Your Name (Has Slipped My Mind Again) is singularly stunning – lighting is deceptively simple yet theatrically spectacular throughout, and here it is the perfect complement to a song that is thematically akin to the heartbreaking Johnny Cash version of Hurt.
The final half hour is the time for the audience to get up from their seats – the more widely known hits come in a volley, reminding us of the variety of Midge Ure’s band memberships; Vienna, Fade to Grey, The Boys are Back in Town and more are belted out and the camaraderie of all the performers on stage is evident. Dancing with Tears in My Eyes begins with an extended guitar solo and once again, we are witnessing Midge Ure in the flow of excellence and enjoyment.
The encore is something different again, as a relatively petite set of new drums are brought on to the stage, and all four musicians ultimately end up with drumsticks in hand, in tight formation for a thunderous instrumental rendition of Ultravox hit, The Voice; it’s the crescendo finale to an absolutely stunning evening in the hands of a humble master.
You can check out the interview with Midge Ure by clicking here.
The recording of Midge Ure live at the Royal Albert Hall is available now from a variety of outlets. For more Midge Ure news and tour dates, check out his website.
