Tonight a large throng (including us here at Backseat Mafia) gathered 3Arena Dublin for the start of Simply Reds long awaited Blue Eyed Soul tour, and opening up the night is soul star Mica Paris who treats the audience to a set spanning her career as well as tracks from her latest album. Nearing the end of her set she takes us on, as she attests ‘A trip with Mica thought the 90s’ with a medley of her 90s hits.
After a short interval Simply Red take to the stage to the now full arena and loud applause and cheers, both band and audience are happy to be here after the past near 2 years of have restrictions finally been lifted (well, 90%). Mick tells the audience ‘we made it, we survived’ before going on to explain to the crowd how the band are staying in a bubble and not leaving hotels on the tour so no dates have to be cancelled.
Opening with ‘Home’, it’s hit after hit, intertwined with tracks from the tours name sake album ‘Blued Eyed Soul’, and the crowd lap it up. Standouts were the bands singles sch as Holding Back the Years, For Your Babies, Stars, The Right Thing and more, but there are to many to mention (see what i done there lol). Once ‘A new flame’ started there wasn’t many sitting as everyone seemed to be dancing in their seats. The same can be said for all the classics.
Each song was accompanied with its own stunning visuals which were projected on two two large screens either side of the stage and five smaller retractable screens which hovered over the stage and were at different lengths throughout the show. At times the band themselves were projected on to these screens, which made for a brilliant visual display.
The band returned for a four song encore, led by Something Got Me Started, before renditions of Fairground, Money’s Too Tight (To Mention), before Harold Melvins ’If you don’t know me by now’ sends everyone home happy.
So gigs are back in Dublin and lets all hope its to stay.
