Post-punk outfit The Psychedelic Furs were perhaps at the peak of their powers in the 1980s when legendary director John Hughes borrowed their hit ‘Pretty in Pink’ as both the title and theme song for his 1986 classic starring Molly Ringwald. The pop-oriented earworm marked a departure from the band’s more severe and at times alienating art-rock sound, expanding their listenership. So, when the Furs emerge tonight under the hot pink glow of Manchester Academy 2’s stage lights, it’s really rather on-brand.
The Furs get straight to the point. This is a no-nonsense set of songs that the band have perfected live over a career spanning six decades with a handful of new tracks thrown in for good measure. Audience chat in between songs is kept to a minimum – the odd “Hello” and “thank you” escape Richard Butler’s lips but the radio silence only enhances their mystery.
Butler is the archetypal rock ‘n’ roll frontman, with a McCulloch feather-cut and shades which he never removes allowing him to retain an air of mystery. He cuts a sophisticated yet stylish figure in head-to-toe black, a blazer and tie but with no shirt beneath. He’s surprisingly lithe for a 65-year-old, springing about the stage with as much energy as the band had in their heyday. Sometimes he’s knees-bent, crouching on the floor like a menace, the next he’s prowling about the stage, leaning towards the crowd – or as close as he can get were it not for the fence and security presence – God forbid the tour were suspended an umpteenth time if COVID struck!
The Furs’ current line-up includes Butler’s brother Tim Butler, who looks suave in an embroidered red blazer and deftly weaves basslines across each song. Keyboardist Amanda Kramer looks cool as ever, as she sends notes cascading across each track with an air of nonchalance. But it’s perhaps saxophonist-cum-clarinettist Mars Williams who really rivals Richard Butler for your attention. He strides to-and-fro across the stage enhancing each tune with jazzy melodies, his instrument like an extra limb, melded to him as if leading his movements, and underscoring Butler’s unmistakable raspy vocal.
Tracks from Made of Rain, the band’s 2020 album, feature heavily on the setlist; the shimmering ‘Ash Wednesday’ and the slow burn of ‘This’ll Never Be Like Love’ stand out. It’s refreshing to see such an established band not relying too intensely on a run of greatest hits from years gone by, though these are the tunes that are received most warmly by the crowd. The eerie intro to ‘Love My Way’ resounds through the room as the crowd joins in with its sing-along chorus. Meanwhile new wave cuts like ‘Heaven’ and ‘Heartbreak Beat’ infuse the room with 80s nostalgia.
This isn’t by any means the kind of show where the crowd sing-along to every song, but it is one where the audience appreciates each performance. There’s a spectrum of ages present; a real testament to how ahead of their time The Psychedelic Furs really were. Sure, their early days of art-rock may have drawn in a pretentious band of listeners but their ability to break into the mainstream with more pop-oriented and new wave material allowed them to reach a wider audience without losing their individuality or artistic merit. The Bowie-esque ‘The Ghost in You’ makes an appearance, whilst ‘President Gas’ sounds as fresh as it did in 1982.
They deliver the one-two punch of ‘Sister of Mine’ and ‘India’ from their 1980 self-titled debut for an encore. A delicious saxophone solo in the former inspires some whoops and cheers from the audience whilst the epic ‘India’ sprawls and spirals in its instrumentals.
It seems a shame that the band are reduced to Academy 2’s small capacity, but perhaps it is better that way – it feels more personal, like the old days, and the Furs are at the top of their game.
You can buy the remaining tickets for The Psychedelic Furs’ tour here.
Words by Sarah Taylor
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