Barenaked Ladies with OMD and Howard Jones at the Cabooze Plaza 6/3/2016

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The first show of the summer at the Cabooze Plaza kicked off just as the rain ended and turned into a beautiful evening with plenty of fun and great music. Headliner Barenaked Ladies supported by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Howard Jones. Between sets DJ Jake Rudh proved his touch by playing a great set of synth heavy new wave music with a distinctively British touch.

Howard Jones started the evening. We covered him a few months ago playing a stripped down almost acoustic set and this was a very different vibe. With a small keytar around his neck Jones was close to the fans. The crowd was singing along happily to the chorus of the songs which seemed extended versions – the first 3 took almost 18 minutes, but nobody was complaining the least bit. He ended his set with “Things will only get better” that started of normally but then got drawn out into a modernized techno version with soaring synths and beats. And I have to say, it worked really well.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark played 45 minutes of back to back hits with one new song thrown in. Singer Andy McCluskey “apologized” to anyone from the music Intelligentsia in the audience that they were not going to play any of their artsy tracks to the lewd cheers of the crowd. OMD’s interaction with the crowd as great and there was quite a bit of friendly banter between band members as well. My favorite quote? “A long time ago, we were a cool English synth band”. Well OMD are still very cool in my book and judging by the audience reaction others think so as well. How can I tell? When they announced “Electricity” as their last song, a collective shout of “Noooooo!” came back from the crowd.
Set List: Enola Gay / Tesla Girls / Secret / History of Modern / If you Leave / Forever Live and Die / Maid of Orleans / So in Love / Dreaming / Locomotion / Electricity


Barenaked Ladies, or BNL as they are known to their fans casually strolled on stage to the cheers of the audience. 2012 was the beginning of their “Last Summer on Earth” Tour as tip of the hat to the end of the Mayan Calendar. As the world did not end, they continued their tour. Last year their show at Red Rocks was used to cut a live album “BNL Rocks Red Rocks” that was included with this year’s ticket. BNLs overall set was relaxed and fun, like the neighbors really good band came over to play at your backyard BBQ. Jokes like renaming the tour “80s and the Ladies” got laughs from the crowd as did a short improvised rap. Singer Ed Robertson shared duties with other member and instrument switches were galore. A crowd favorite was a collaboration with Howard Jones on “No one is to Blame”. The fans ate it up and let the Cabooze after sun filled evening happy and smiling.
Set List: Testing / Beautiful / Peterborough / Crazy / Fox on the Run / Brian / Summertime / Gonna Walk / Duct Tape Heart / No one is to Blame / Old Apartment / Pinch Me / Northern Lights / Odds are / Big Bang / One Week / If I had a Million Dollars / Tyler Show

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