Culture Club & Boy George Review with Photos 8-11-23

’80s nostalgia made a comeback last Friday night as Boy George and Culture Club’s “Letting It Go Tour” took over the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands along with Howard Jones and Berlin.

The British singer-songwriter Howard Jones, who is now 68 years old, kicked off the evening flanked by a guitarist, two musicians on synthesizers, laptops and electronic drum pads, and renowned prog-rocker Nick Beggs (in leather kilt and a sheer black long sleeve shirt) with the sun starting to set over the hill at the pavilion. Jones, dressed in white pants and t-shirt with a colorful unbuttoned shirt flowing in the breeze from the air-conditioned stage, opened up his set with the 1984 “Pearl in the Shell” from this first album. After several more songs from his 80’s library Jones sang the 1983 hit ”Too Shy” by the band Kajagoogoo which turned out to be a big crowd sing along. “Too Shy” was only fitting since accompanying tour member Beggs is an original member of Kajagoogoo. Beggs during the set split his time between slapping bass and tapping an electronic Chapman Stick on all of Jones' songs. Next Jones kept the crowd singing with his 1985 classic “No One is to Blame” followed by the 2019 released song “The One to Love You.” Jones ended his set with his hit “Things Can Only Get Better” with the crowd dancing and singing along.

Berlin kicked off their show with “Masquerade” and “No More Words.” Berlin vocalist Terri Nunn, 62, looked stunning in a flowing sheer strapless red dress and sounded fantastic while belting out “Take My Breath Away” from the original “Top Gun” soundtrack. The crowd which was now on their feet sang along with Terri from the very start. Band members included founder John Crawford, veteran guitarist Dave Diamond and bassist Carlton Bost, whose been with the band since 2003. During a cover of The Cult’s “She Sells Sanctuary,” Nunn was helped down from the stage into the crowd, pausing periodically to wrap her arms around, dance with and sing to fans, before returning to the stage for the finale of “Sex (I’m A).”

After a quick set change Boy George & Culture Club took the Pavilion stage. George met the Pavilion crowd with arms wide open from the top of stairs situated between the 2 percussionists wearing a signature top hat, black pants, untucked black shirt with a designer graphics emblazoned jacket. After descending down the stairs while singing “The Next Thing Will Be Amazing” George stated, “Houston we do not have a problem.” George even addressed the Texas heat wave that had descended on the outdoor pavilion for the last several weeks. He acknowledged that he could have worn jeans and a t-shirt but thanks to the wonderfully air-conditioned Pavilion stage he could still dress as he seemed fit.

With an eight-piece band that featured backing vocalists and saxophone, the vibe veered toward Vegas revue. With the over-sized hat George was a towering figure and at 62 looked and sounded great belting out soulful songs like “It’s a Miracle” and “Angel of Mercy.” The players, which include original Club members bassist Mikey Craig and guitarist Roy Hay are complete pros, and George’s voice supported by the backing vocalists has held up well. A few songs were wisely played a step or two down from the originals but the change was barely noticeable.

With the crowd firmly on their feet for the duration of the night George went through a packed setlist which included “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me” dead center of the main set.

To change the momentum a little for the encore Boy George sandwiched the 80’s hit “Karma Chameleon” between a little nostalgia from his own youth, with the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” and ending the night with T-Rex’s “Get It On.”

Thanks to the warmth of the brass and the punch of added vocals, the soul and reggae influences on this 1980s pop band were uppermost during a night that mixed old and new. In an industry packed with reunions, they are a band with continued relevance.

Culture Club & Boy George Setlist:
Next Thing Will Be Amazing
It's a Miracle
I'll Tumble 4 Ya
Melodrama
Everything I Own (Bread cover)
Let It Go
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me
Eyeliner Voodoo (Boy George Song)
Angel of Mercy
That's the Way (I'm Only Trying to Help You)
Church of the Poison Mind / I'm Your Man
Time (Clock of the Heart)
Miss Me Blind
Encore:
Sympathy for the Devil (The Rolling Stones cover)
Karma Chameleon
Get It On (T. Rex cover)

Berlin:
Masquerade
No More Words
The Metro
Animal
Transcendance
Take My Breath Away
Dancing In Berlin
She Sells Sanctuary (The Cult cover)
Sex (I'm a...)

Howard Jones:
Pearl in the Shell
Like to Get to Know You Well
Everlasting Love
New Song
Too Shy (Kajagoogoo cover)
No One Is to Blame
Th One to Love You
What Is Love?
Things Can Only Get Better