The Psychedelic Furs and Squeeze.

Last night at Radio City Music Hall I watched two very good bands perform. Confounding that The Furs would open for Squeeze since The Furs are more renowned in the new wave genre. Richard Butler, the bands lead singer with his macabre voice, at times he sounds like David Bowie, at other times, like an old horror movie actor. Both animated and theatrical, Butler is one of the best lead singers that I have seen. His talents can carry the band and make him the focus as he moves and dances with such a nuance.

In the 1980 till today, the band has put out eight albums. The bands song "Pretty in Pink" was the title song for the movie with the same name. While "Heartbreak Beat" is the most commercial song, other songs like "President Gas", "Into You Like a Train", "No Tears", "No-One" are big fan favorites.

While the band has had many changes, the real core of the band is Butler, his brother on the bass, saxophonist Mars Williams and drummer Zack Alford. Together, they carried the show last evening. For over an hour the band had great musical energy. The songs performed were all tight and well done.

The Furs came on the scene in the post-punk era. Like, Duran Duran, Thompson Twins, Blondie, Talking Heads, The Pet Shop Boys, U2, and Tears for Fears, they would mesh their way in the new wave scene both in London (where they are from) and New York City. Playing clubs here like Danceteria and CBGB, The Psychedelic Furs had a rapid following. When talking of the great bands in the new wave genre The Furs would reach the popularity of Depeache Mode and others.

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Squeeze.

Of the two bands last evening, Squeeze was the more popular band. Radio City started to fill up halfway thru The Furs opening performance. Also an English band, Squeeze is what I would call a fun band, their songs are pithy and never shake the establishment. Around for many years, the band tours regularly. I have seen Squeeze three times. The first was when David Bowie played Giants Stadium as a warm up act. The second time I saw them was at PNC, in Homdel, New Jersey when the were the opening act to Hall and Oates. Just after the Covid pandemic, both bands fought a horrible sound system that evening. But tonight was different; the band was spot on.

Opening with their usual "Take Me I'm Yours" you could sense the tightness in this veteran band. "Hourglass" and "Up The Junction" too were hits right out of the gate. "Slap &Tickle" was surprisingly good as the band fed off the audiences enthusiasm. The best song of the evening performed by the band was "Another Nail in My Heart". As the evening wound down, "Pulling Mussels (From the Shell", "Tempted", "Cool for Cats" and "Black Coffee in Bed" were the evenings final song with "Annie Get Your Gun" in-between the aforementioned.

With both bands well up there in age, they performed like real seasoned pros. Both bands brought great energy and rhythm with excellent melodies that made the three hours enjoyable.

Squeeze, Robert M. Massimi, Psycadellic Furs, Heartbreak Beat, Pulling Mussels From a Shell, Black Coffee in Bed, President Gas, www.broadwayworld.com, www.nimbus,com, London, England, Radio City, Breitbart, Hall and Oates, David Bowie, www.nytimes.com, Medium.com, Medium, Tik Toc, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, X, Linkedin, New York City.