Simple Minds Review with Photos 5-31-25

A Night of New Wave Nostalgia:
Simple Minds Electrify the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

   on Saturday, May 31 the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion was transformed into a time capsule of 1980s magic, with Simple Minds delivering a show that was both nostalgic and electric. Under clear skies and a sea of fans, the legendary Scottish band brought an energy that was impossible to resist. Jim Kerr’s charismatic presence and soaring vocals were matched by the band’s tight, dynamic performance, especially on hits like “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” and “Alive and Kicking.” The crowd was on their feet, singing along, proving that these anthems are as powerful today as they were four decades ago.

    Modern English took the stage first, delivering a short but heartfelt set that reminded the audience why their music still resonates more than forty years on. Vocalist Robbie Grey’s voice has retained its earnest charm, and the band closed, unsurprisingly, with an anthemic rendition of "I Melt With You" sparking a mass singalong that set the mood for the rest of the night.

    Soft Cell followed, emerging to swirling lights and the pulsing basslines that made them icons of synthpop. Marc Almond’s theatrical presence and still-soulful voice gave songs like Bedsitter and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye fresh life, while the inevitable finale of "Tainted Love" sent the Pavilion into a dancing frenzy. It was a masterclass in how to blend melancholy with irresistible hooks.

    By the time Simple Minds took the stage, the crowd was primed for a triumphant celebration. Jim Kerr, ever the charismatic frontman, bounded across the stage with undiminished energy. The band opened with "Waterfront" and never let up, balancing newer material with the classics everyone had come to hear. When the soaring strains of "Don’t You (Forget About Me)" filled the amphitheater, thousands of voices joined in, uniting generations in a single chorus. Guitarist Charlie Burchill’s shimmering leads and the lush synth layers brought each song to life with cinematic scope.

    Over nearly two hours, Simple Minds proved they are far more than an ‘80s nostalgia act. They delivered a show that was both a tribute to their legacy and a testament to their enduring power as performers. For those who were there, it was a night that won’t soon be forgotten.

    Overall, it was an unforgettable evening that blended nostalgia with fresh energy. For fans of new wave and synth-pop, the concert was a celebration of timeless music and enduring stage presence.

Simple Minds Setlist:
Waterfront
I Travel
Glittering Prize (Tour debut)
Let There Be Love
Once Upon a Time
Someone Somewhere in Summertime
She's a Rive
New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)
Oh Junglelan
Theme for Great Cities
Drum Solo
Promised You a Miracle
All the Things She Said
See the Lights
Don't You (Forget About Me) (with “multilingual” audience participation bit)
Encore:
Book of Brilliant Things
Alive and Kicking
Sanctify Yourself

Soft Cell Setlist:
Memorabilia (With snippets of Madonna's "Holiday,” “Into the Groove" and "Like a Virgin")
Torch
Monoculture
Nostalgia Machine
Purple Zone
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
Bedsitter
The Night (The Four Seasons cover)
Tainted Love / Where Did Our Love Go

Modern English Setlist:
Gathering Dust
Long in the Tooth
Someone's Calling
Hands Across the Sea
Swans on Glass
I Melt With You