Concert review: Erasure brings thumping club music to Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg

For only being a two-man operation, Erasure sure knows how to kick up a huge cloud of glittery dust and throw a hell of a party. The synth-pop twosome who got their start in the mid-1980s have continued to rack up an impressive amount of dance club hits and a wide array of gold and platinum-selling albums. The long-lasting adoration for the British pair can be mostly attributed to a ravenous, die-hard dedicated fanbase. Just ask any of the giddy attendees who danced and sang along during the band's nearly sold-out 90-minute performance at St. Petersburg's lovely Mahaffey Theater this past Sunday night. [Text by Gabe, photos by DCG]

The relatively early show started with a bang at 8:30 p.m. as dazzling lead singer Andy Bell and keyboard/synth wizard Vince Clarke opened the set with one of their earliest hits, "Oh L'Amour," a standout from the band's 1986 debut, Wonderland. No stranger to creating and writing catchy, danceable, melodic, synthesizer-driven music, Clarke, a founding member of both Depeche Mode and Yazoo, has remained an integral part of Erasure for longer than any of his former bands. His knack for smart lyrics and Disco-inspired synth-pop has put him at the head of the class of electronic acts for decades. As he quietly and demurely stands at the rear of the stage twisting knobs and plunking keys, Clarke is the silent, unsung hero responsible of Erasure's thumping beats and creativity. And, truth be told, how on earth could he (or anyone else on this planet for that matter) compete with lead singer and focal point Andy Bell?

Clad in sparkly, skin-tight pants and jacket, a vibrant shimmery tee-shirt, shiny oversized top hat and shades, Bell demands the attention of everyone in a room as well any rock band frontman. Not to sound cliched, but he's utterly fabulous. Bell is a colorful Pride parade, a breathtaking circus and a racy burlesque show all rolled into one; and he's the reason that Erasure attracts such uninhibited, bold, individualistic fans. Flanked by two gorgeous backup singers sporting matching afro-puffs and shimmery, sliver pants, Bell playfully warned the crowd that the band was going to treat the audience to some "club tracks," to which he was met with a huge roar. And, in an instant, the Mahaffey was transformed into a dark, pulsating nightclub replete with impressive flashing lights, strobes and whizzing spotlights. Suffice it to say that no seats were occupied that night; each row and some of the aisles were taken over by non-stop dancing by everyone in attendance.

Throwing in some impressive new selections from the band's latest release and 16th overall, The Violet Flame, fans danced and bopped along to the unfamiliar material. The album's lead-off single "Elevation" was the obvious standout of the newer songs. Its strong, driving dancebeat sounded like it would fit in nicely in any modern club playlist. However, never ones to disappoint, Erasure treated longtime followers to an impressive lineup of hits and selections from throughout their nearly 30-year old catalog of music.

"Star," a 1990 hit, became a passionate sing-along with its soaring chorus belted by all men, women and children (ok…mostly men) in attendance. Afterwards, Bell coyly drew attention to his divine getup. "I was trying to go for Liza Minnelli channeling Lucille Ball," he joked before peeling off his jacket. Bell's sense of humor and his elation to be onstage are a huge part of his appeal. In all the times I've attended an Erasure performance (and Sunday's gala was certainly no exception), Bell has gleefully and joyously savored every moment in the spotlight and delivered an outpouring of charisma with an ever-present smile on his face.

A few minor problems with his strapped-on monitor pack did nothing to deter his jovial performance. While many other performers might storm off stage or throw a small fit, Bell simply walked over to Clarke, who helped him get the piece of equipment reconnected and reattached to Bell's waistline. Which, considering that Andy had changed into a tight and tiny pair of glittery hot pants, was no easy feat.

As the hits kept coming and thrilling the roaring crowd, Erasure treated the diehards to a rare album cut; "You might be too young to remember the Chorus album," Bell announced, referring to the band's 1991 hit LP, "…but this is one of my favorites from that album" before launching into a heartfelt, unexpected reading of deep cut "Joan."

It was the set closing one-two punch of mega-hits "A Little Respect" and "Chains of Love" that drew the loudest, most feverish ovations of the night. As Bell pranced, danced, shimmied and shook from one end of the stage to the other, everyone on the floor (and plenty of folks in the balconies) danced along and displayed the inner-pizzazz that only Andy Bell can evoke. Drying himself with a hand towel between songs, Bell looked and sounded like he was still gaining steam and was ready carry on all night long.

Another undeniable pairing of massive dance hits, "Always" and "Sometimes," rounded out the evening's encore and sent fans home sweaty, smiling, and brimming with the happiness and elation Bell unleashes every time he's center stage leading the dynamic powerhouse of two that is Erasure. Sunday night's display was an excellent snapshot of the unusual yet engaging pairing that is the tight-lipped wallflower of Vince Clarke and the stunning, over the top, vivacious presence of Andy Bell.

Set List
Oh L'Amour
Star
Reason
Breath of Life
You Surround Me
Elevation
I Lose Myself
Drama!
Victim of Love
Ship of Fools
Sacred
Breathe
Joan
Blue Savannah
Chorus
Love to Hate You
A Little Respect
Chains of Love

ENCORE
Always
Sometimes

This article appears in Sep 11-17, 2014.