Tom Bailey Serves A Showcase Of Thompson Twins Hits For Australia - Noise11.com
Tom Bailey Rod Laver Arena Thursday 30 November 2017. Photo by Ros O'Gorman

Tom Bailey Rod Laver Arena Thursday 30 November 2017. Photo by Ros O'Gorman

Tom Bailey Serves A Showcase Of Thompson Twins Hits For Australia

by Paul Cashmere on December 1, 2017

in News

Tom Bailey is treating Australian fans to their first concentrated dose of Thompson Twins hits for the first time in over 30 years.

Thompson Twins had incredible chart success in Australia in the 80s with a handful of hits you still hear today on radio. The album ‘Into The Gap’ was the big one, landing at no 4 in Australia and supplying the two iconic pop songs ‘Doctor Doctor’ and ‘Hold Me Now’, both firmly positioned at the end of Tom’s set.

Tom Bailey played Rod Laver Arena on Thursday 30 November 2017. Photo by Ros O'Gorman

Tom is touring Australia as special guest of Culture Club with his all female band Angie Pollock (Peter Gabriel/Goldfrapp) on vocals and keyboards, Amanda Kramer (The Psychedelic Furs/Information Society) on vocals and keyboards and Paulina Szczepaniak on electronic drums.

Amanda Kramer with Tom Bailey at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday 30 November 2017. Photo by Ros O'Gorman

Seeing Tom perform these songs for the first time in three decades makes you realise how big Thompson Twins were right at that 80s pop point that gave the world acts like Culture Club and Duran Duran, all artists that stood the test of time.

Tom Bailey played Rod Laver Arena on Thursday 30 November 2017. Photo by Ros O'Gorman

The “comeback” is always interesting to watch and judging by audience reaction, this is extremely good timing for Tom. Tom didn’t even need to turn up for ‘Hold Me Now’, the audience knew and sang every word.

Tom Bailey played Rod Laver Arena on Thursday 30 November 2017. Photo by Ros O'Gorman

The sound was pretty shabby. It is funny how it magically corrected itself when Culture Club took the stage. It’s a shame that headline acts still play that game of giving acts before them a cut down version of audio quality. What Tom lacked from the sound desk he more than made up for with the setlist. With limited time there was only room for seven songs but the audience knew every one of them.

Tom Bailey played Rod Laver Arena on Thursday 30 November 2017. Photo by Ros O'Gorman

Missing songs like ‘Don’t Mess With Dr Dream’, ‘In The Name Of Love’ and ‘Sister of Mercy’ gives a good excuse for Tom Bailey to come back and do his own shows.

Tom Bailey played Rod Laver Arena on Thursday 30 November 2017. Photo by Ros O'Gorman

The half-filled Rod Laver Arena also affected the sound. I can only imagine how good a stand alone show in Australia’s club like 170 Russell would go. Tom, you really need to come back on your own terms and do shows at the places the fans frequent for music.

PHOTO GALLERY: Tom Bailey in Melbourne by Ros O’Gorman

Tom Bailey setlist Melbourne, 30 November 2017

Lies (from Quick Step and Side Kick, 1983)
You Take Me Up (from Into The Gap, 1984)
King For A Day (from Here’s To Future Days, 1985)
Love On Your Side (from Quick Step and Side Kick, 1983)
Lay Your Hands On Me (from Here’s To Future Days, 1985)
Doctor Doctor (from Into The Gap, 1984)
Hold Me Now (from Into The Gap, 1984)

Tom Bailey remaining Australian dates

Friday 1st December
ICC, Sydney
Special guest: Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey
Support act: Eurogliders

Saturday 2nd December
Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Special guest: Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey
Support act: Eurogliders

Sunday 3rd December
Newcastle Entertainment Centre
Special guest: Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey
Support act: Eurogliders

Tuesday 5th December
Wollongong Entertainment Centre
Special guest: Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey
Support act: Eurogliders

Wednesday 6th December
AIS, Canberra
Special guest: Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey
Support act: Eurogliders

Thursday 7th December
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Special guest: Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey
Support act: Eurogliders

Saturday 9th December
Perth Arena
Special guests: Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey & The Human League
Support act: Eurogliders

Watch Tom Bailey, the Noise11.com interview:

Noise11.com

Related Posts

Sinead O'Connor at Point Nepean, Victoria 2008 photo by Ros O'Gorman
Unreleased Sinead O’Connor Song Features In TV Drama The Woman In The Wall

What is maybe Sinead O’Connor’s final song ‘The Magdalene Song’ has premiered in the season finale of the BBC series ‘The Woman in the Wall’.

14 hours ago
Stevie Nicks ADOTG at Rochford Winery on Saturday 18 November 2017. Photo by Ros O'Gorman
Stevie Nicks Announces 2023 2024 Dates Including More With Billy Joel

Stevie Nicks has expanded her current U.S. tour into 2024 including more dates with Billy Joel.

15 hours ago
The Rolling Stones Reveal Next Single Is Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder Track ‘Sweet Sounds of Heaven’

The Rolling Stones will release another single later this week. It is the Lady Gaga duet featuring Stevie Wonder on keyboards, ‘Sweet Sounds of Heaven’.

15 hours ago
Neil Young and Crazy Horse Greendale tour Melbourne photo by Ros O'Gorman
Neil Young Returns to Farm Aid After Three Year Absence For A Four Song Set

Neil Young returned to Farm Aid for the first time since 2019 over the weekend 23 September, 2023). Young performed four songs dating back to his signature song ‘Heart of Gold’ and including the new song ‘Love Earth’ from 2022.

2 days ago
Bob Dylan Heavens Door whiskey
Bob Dylan Joins The Heartbreakers At Farm Aid

Bob Dylan was a surprise special guest at Farm Aid in Noblesville, Indiana on Saturday (24 September) with three of The Heartbreakers, Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench and Steve Ferrone, as his band.

2 days ago
Watch Behind The Scenes of the New Rolling Stones Video ‘Angry’

The Rolling Stones have released a behind the scenes look at the making of their new video ‘Angry’.

2 days ago
Kylie Minogue photo by Ros OGorman
Kylie Minogue Plans A Giant Party for Las Vegas Residency

Kylie Minogue can't wait to "party" during her Las Vegas residency.

2 days ago