Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark at First Avenue, 9/26/2011

​Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Halfway through their second US tour this year, OMD has definitely hit their stride. And with lead singer and bassist Andy McCluskey bounding around the stage wildly ("Unfortunately I still dance like a windmill... But I'm 52 now and it's too late. Unfortunately") the energy level was far higher than even die-hard fans expected, propelling the '80s dance party atmosphere to a fever pitch.

It didn't take long to reach that fever pitch, either. Just three songs into the set, "Tesla Girls" ignited a full-blown dance party. While many '80s bands coming through town remark at the abundance of young folks, it felt truly sincere when McCluskey noticed. "Some of you don't look old enough to have been around when that came out!"

The mid-set appearance of "If You Leave" was a highlight of the night, with McCluskey taking center stage to sing to the adoring crowd. While nearly a third of the audience was probably too young to have seen Pretty in Pink during its original theatrical release, the universal eruption of applause toward the end was striking. Some even meandered their way out of the venue, having heard the one song they came for. 

​Unfortunately for them, OMD had much more in store. While they ran through a selection of new and old material - quite well balanced, even for the uninitiated - their energy and obvious passion for their music didn't let up. Their enthusiasm was visibly bolstered by the crowd's admiration, with McCluskey regularly reaching over the barricade to interact with the fervent fans nearby. While closing out the set with "Electricity" ("A song we wrote when he [Humphreys] was 15 and I was 16!") McCluskey even mouthed an earnest "I love you" before sending them out into the night with a promise that they won't wait so long before coming back around.

"This is the best show I've ever seen in my life." I didn't save that one for the "Overheard" segment below - it was a sentiment repeated by dozens of new wave fans I passed by on the way out, young and old. I'm not sure if I'd go that far myself, but having entered this show somewhat skeptical of a 33-year-old band's abilities, I was impressed.

Personal bias: OMD was formed a few years before I was born but their music was part of a steady diet of synth-pop that I consumed in my twenties. Frankly, I had no idea what to expect from their live show.

The crowd: Twentysomething Transmission regulars dancing like they're in their twenties, fifty-something couples dancing like they're in their twenties and dozens of Twin Cities new wave musicians nodding their heads in approval like they're from the Twin Cities.

Overheard in the crowd: "British synth-pop bands have a fetish for audience clapping in unison." -@mrgilbert on Twitter

Random notebook dump: Holy crap. I lost count at 40 glowing screens hoisted aloft, recording video during "If You Leave." At least half were BlackBerries. This is bizarre.