While some bands seem to be clinging to days past, trying recapture what they once were, Pet Shop Boys take a decidedly different approach…consistency. For nearly 30 years, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have stayed true to their ways and continue to be the ambassadors for Euro-disco and dance music. Playing the first of two nights of their 2009 Pandemonium tour in San Francisco, PSB’s adoring fans were treated to a creative and theatrical stage show, a half-dozen wardrobe changes and a slew of their favorite hits.
True to his dapper persona, Tennant worked the crowd, effortlessly switching from a disco sparkle jacket to a full-on tuxedo and eventually swapping his trademark hat and sunglasses for the obligatory cape and crown. Lowe was on duty being stoic behind a bank of computers and synths, although he did manage to participate with the dancers for a short bit and throw a single brief smile to the crowd. All around them was a coordinated flurry of androgynous dancers, performers wearing primary-colored cubic headpieces and white lab-coat clad and construction-helmeted stage hands. Functioning like an efficient team of worker ants, the crew reconfigured the stage, made up of solid white cubes which served as large screens for the ever-changing video displays. Moving, stacking and restacking the cubes like a bunch of kids building a fort of empty boxes, it was a very simple idea that was incredibly effective.
Along with music from their 10th and most recent album Yes, including “Did You See Me Coming?,” “Pandemonium,” “Love Etc.” and “All Over the World,” PSB also delivered songs from their vast library of hits. Older favorites, often woven seamlessly into more recent tracks, included “Love Comes Quickly,” “Two Divided By Zero,” “It’s a Sin” and of course “West End Girls” to close out the show. Thankfully, the cringe-worthy “Opportunities” and “Rent” would not make an appearance at this show. A testament to their consistent approach over the years, new and old songs sat happily together, flowing across the decades and held up by Tennant’s unmistakable and reliable vocals.
Throughout the set, Tennant and Lowe were joined onstage by a myriad of costumed performers. At one point, a set of dancers “wearing” different New York City buildings provided a rhythmic cityscape to accompany “Why Don’t We Live Together.” During “Jealousy,” two dancers performed a ballet brawl, adding an eerie visualization to the lyrics. The easy standout for the evening was a heartfelt performance of “Being Boring.” It was a perfect match for such a theatrical production and Tennant’s voice sounded better than ever. A credit to their longevity, Pet Shop Boys continue to deliver intelligent lyrics, deceptively simple dance music and boatloads of style.
Artist:
www.petshopboys.co.uk
myspace.com/petshopboys
Album:
Pet Shop Boys – Yes is out now. Buy it on Amazon.
