POP! GOES PERFECTION: ANDY BELL BRINGS A LITTLE RESPECT AND A LOT OF FABULOUS TO THE STAGE IN TRUE ERASURE STYLE
- Alan Bryce
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
G - Live Guildford, May 12th, 2025
WORDS AND IMAGES ALAN BRYCE
Andy Bell has been a stalwart in UK pop music since the early 80s. Having formed the band Erasure with Vince Clarke of Yazoo and early Depeche Mode fame, the duo has celebrated 40 years in the industry. They have released 19 albums, with the first in 1986 and the most recent in 2022. In his 40th year of music, Andy has released his 3rd solo offering, his first solo record since 'Non-Stop' in 2010, which followed his debut, Electric Blue, released in 2005. Despite the 15 years between albums, Erasure has released 6 albums, keeping Andy busy and in the limelight, dealing with personal issues quietly and graciously, allowing his music and career to speak for itself.
To support his latest release, Ten Crowns, Andy embarked on a 13-date UK tour before heading to Europe and a substantial tour in North America from October through December, stopping at 25 different locations. Ten Crowns, a delightful 10-track pop package, was released on the 2nd of this month. It opens with the up-tempo 'Breaking Thru the Interstellar' followed by two fantastic collaborative tracks, 'Lies So Deep' with Sarah Potenza and 'Heart's a Liar' with the legendary Debbie Harry. The lead single, found halfway through the album, 'Don't Cha Know,' was released on the 18th of February and was well received. It was co-written by Bell and the writer/co-producer of the album, Dave Audé.
Bell's band for this tour comprised the pop duo Steele Fountain, with Jerry Fuentes on guitar and backing vocals, and Hailey Steele on lead vocals, backed by Sarah Tomek on drums, and album producer Dave Audé directing and on keyboards. The venue was set up for a seated performance with floor and tiered seating, which surprised me a little. However, within seconds of Andy singing the first line from the set opener, 'Breaking Thru The Interstellar,' the entirety of the audience was on their feet, and this remained the case for the duration of the performance.
The following two tracks, classic Erasure songs 'Blue Savannah' and 'Sometimes,' were sung loudly by the audience, clearly fans of both Erasure and Andy Bell. The set continued with a mix of new album tracks and some of Erasure's biggest hits. Mid-set, the band performed a flawless version of the Erasure song 'Breathe' while Andy took a short break. Upon Andy's return, and after performing 'Always,' the audience was treated to the perfectly interpreted and performed Olivia Newton John classic, 'Xanadu.'
A lovely touch was during the singing of 'Victim of Love,' where Andy slowly walked the front of the stage, shaking the hands of every front-row fan, creating a fantastic memory for those up front. The set continued with 'Thank You.' The evening was rounded out with the absolute Erasure banger 'A Little Respect.'
Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable show from start to finish. Andy's vocals were excellent, and he was backed by a very talented and competent band. The new material is fantastic, unique to Andy but with a hint of what he's known for. The album as a whole is a strong piece of work. He was extremely engaging throughout, acknowledging the audience, discussing hair colour, and asking for make-up tips. Genuinely fun and entertaining.
I expect this tour to be incredibly successful, and with that, perhaps we'll get a few more shows around the UK once he returns from the States. A true artist and icon, 40 years in this industry is a long time, and I genuinely hope Andy continues to perform and release material for a very long time to come. Mr Bell, let's not wait another 15 years for the next album!
Fantastic night.
Set List
Breaking Thru The Interstellar
Blue Savannah
Sometimes
Don’t Cha know
Drama!
Heart’s A Liar
Chains of love
Godspell
Love To Hate You
Breathe
Always
Xanadu - Olivia Newton John
For today
Victim of love
Dance For Mercy
Encore
Put Your Empathy On Ice
Oh L’amour
Thank you
A Little Respect
FOLLOW ANDY BELL
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