Review - China Crisis - Acapela Studio - 05/11/2023

Acapela Studios is proving a good venue for China Crisis. Their regular visits guarantees a sell out, whilst those lucky few quick enough to secure tickets, do so certain in the knowledge that, in Gary Daly and Eddie Lundon, their evening is certain to be a joyful and musically rewarding experience.

Whilst they have a back catalogue to be die for, the band are far removed from the current retro 80’s gang plodding through a few hits to the delight of nostalgic dewy-eyed punters. The band sound fresh and in Daly, a front man who can charm the birds from the trees and quite the comedian, with his tales and reminiscing.

Certainly they play their hits (10 top 50 singles) but also much loved and seldom heard album tracks of which the choice is endless.

Aided and abetted by regular bandmates, keyboard player (Jack Hymers) and saxophonist (Eric Animan) they beautifully create powerful soundscapes that complement both Lundon’s fine guitar work and Daly’s subtle vocals.

Early songs about girlfriends, family and friends, their first dabble with songwriting was discussed as they explained the rapid change in their circumstances. One minute Kirby, the next criss-crossing America and the recording of “Arizona Sky” and the broadening of their horizons, both musically and culturally.

With so much chatter and sublime music the evening flew and with the night closing ever so near the curfew, Daly was shocked and keen to push on and squeeze in a few more numbers, one being the wonderful “Christian” to top off a quite stunning evening.

Tony Woolway

China Crisis - Acapela 05/11/2021

All Images Copyright KCL©

It’s been very nearly 40 years, yet for China Crisis, what’s a few years amongst good friends.

80’s bands and their music can be a little cheesy to the discerning listener and whilst many rave about that particular era, which without doubt saw some amazing talents, quite a few bands never seem to get the credit their music deserved and who still very much inspire. One such band is China Crisis.

Despite achieving some considerable hits and critically acclaimed albums, when compiling lists of the great and the good during those times, China Crisis rarely get acknowleged and it’s a frustration that, no doubt the band, as well as their die hard fans would love to correct.

But what China Crisis do, as opposed to their contemporaries is continue to produce the goods both writing and performing at times new material, as well as performing songs from a quite stunning back catalogue.

If I’m sounding very much like a fan, then I admit to being hooked from their earliest begins with the release of their debut album, Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun to Entertain, which was released in December 1982 and the singles "African and White" and "Christian". All seeming so fresh and different at the time.

Fast forward 40 years and I’m still getting that buzz with each performance, and trust me, I’ve seen quite a few!

The China Crisis of today is certainly a different animal, and whether seeing them as a duo, quartet, or full-blown band, they never fail to produce an evening of sublime music and hysterical chatter, something to a newcomer, is totally unexpected.

Fronted by the genial Eddie Lundon and Gary Daly, it’s Daly in particular who lifts proceedings to another level with his good natured and whimsical account of the band’s career and recordings as well as hilarious name-dropping the good and not-so-good people they’ve met during their considerable career.

But, it’s the music we initially came for and the four-piece band were in quite excellent form as they played a selection of singles and album tracks in between Daly’s side-splitting anecdotes.

Songs from the band’s Walter Becker (Steely Dan) produced album Flaunt the Imperfection and the Langer/Winstanley What Price Paradise sounded as fresh as the day they were released with “Arizona Sky” in particular, with it’s catchy refrain still reverberating days/weeks later.

It would be unfair to not mention the contribution made by Jack Hymers (keyboards) and Eric Animan (sax) who completed the band and are indispensable to the China Crisis ‘sound’

Unfortunately/fortunately, with all the chat, the band lost sense of time leaving them rushing to beat the Acapela curfew yet still managed to squeeze in the wonderful “Christian”- before sheepishly ending yet another quite fabulous evening.

For those who haven’t yet had the pleasure then the band are out on tour next year celebrating their 40th Anniversary and with luck, coming to a town near you.

Tony Woolway

Images Copyright KCL©