They return for not one but two encores, the first set has ‘Home’, ‘Belfast Child’ and ‘Sanctify Yourself’ and it’s ‘Belfast’ that just makes you want to cry, but not with sadness but with joy on the realisation how uplifting and emotional music can be. And how one song can take you somewhere so high that no drugs, sex, money, love, life or religion can achieve. This band is one of those rare ones that reach out and touch your soul, they connect, you are them, they are you, there is no stage, no band, no audience, just thousands of people in one room connected to each other through the power of music. I forgot that they do that; it’s been a while since I have been in the ‘Church Of The Minds’ but it’s sure is good to be back, and in these dark days we all need to ‘See The Light.’

Once again they are gone, only to come and finish us off with ‘Ghostdancing’ and the arena responds with all hands in the air, all bums out of seats, all singing, all sweating and as they leave, all smiling. Simple Minds are a great night out, with friends, with lovers, with brothers, sisters, mothers, wife’s, husbands, sons and daughters, all ages, there are Simply no new songs, no old songs, just fuckin’ great songs. Simple Minds have it all and they still deliver as one of the best bands you can go and see live. They are most defiantly ‘Back’ even though they have not been anywhere…  

They tour in December with OMD in support, click the link below for dates, and tick the box on your list that says: ‘Need To See One Great Live Band This Year’…

http://www.shakenstir.co.uk/index.php/features/simpleminds-graffiti-soul/features/7441/

Jj: July 09’