On this day, 20 March 2005, synth-pop duo Erasure played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall on their Erasure Show Tour The band had just released their eleventh studio album Nightbird.
Nightbird received mixed reviews and was only a moderate commercial success, charting no higher than number 27 in UK. Despite the mixed critical reception, many longtime fans of the band hailed it as a return to the sound and feel of classic Erasure albums like Wonderland and Chorus. Singer Andy Bell's revelation that he was HIV-positive just prior to the album's release shed new meaning on the songs' introspective and sometimes melancholy lyrics.
A massive concert tour accompanied this album which travelled across Europe and the UK as well as North America. The tour, dubbed The Erasure Show, featured the extravagant set designs and costume changes Erasure is known for. The tour wrapped up in June 2005.
The album graphic artwork was made by the British artist Rob Ryan.
The album's first single "Breathe" entered the UK Singles Chart at number four – Erasure's highest peak since "Always" hit number four in 1994. No singles from the album charted on the U.S. "Breathe" became Erasure's second number-one on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart – their first being "Victim of Love" in 1987.
Setlist
Mr Gribber and His Amazing Cat - Intro
No Doubt
Hideaway
Phantom Bride
Knocking on Your Door
The Circus
Breathe
Ship of Fools
Drama!
All This Time Still Falling Out of Love
Stop!
Rapture
(Blondie cover)
Ave Maria
(Charles Gounod cover)
Breath of Life
A Little Respect
I Broke It All in Two
Chains of Love
Chorus
Love to Hate You
Blue Savannah
Always
Who Needs Love Like That
Oh l'amour
Encore:
I Bet You're Mad at Me
Sometimes
