ABC

Having been a fan of ABC since the release of their excellent first album, you could definitely say I am a fan! Martin Fry still has it! With all his suave and dapper style, he still can sing you into a musical trance! The smooth style of his vocals still ring true. The band that backed him was equally impressive. Excellent musicianship and great jamming solos! We had to wait 2 and a half hours for the show to start, but it was well worth it. The venue was a relatively new one and occupied the audience with a steady stream of 80's music and videos. We were right in front and closest to Martin! He was so gracious at the end of the show, that he signed my pristine and well preserved vinyl copy of "How to be a Millionaire" right on the stage after the encore! The show was fantastically intimate and the band played all the great hits. My personal favorites were "Be Near Me" and "When Smokey Sings". All the songs sounded perfect, like they were right off the record! Martin even stuck around outside to take photos with fans and sign one item each. But I got more than one signed. He. He. When I met him outside, he actually spent more time talking with me than any of the other fans because he liked my Siouxsie shirt and we joked around for a few minutes much to the dismay of the venue's retarded security staff. It was an excellent ABC performance and although that was the last show of the tour, I highly recommend seeing ABC if and when they come back to the states! It will definitely be memorable!

Sunday 8th November. Theatre Royal Drury Lane. ABC. Sunday night in Theatre land. Willy Wonka has given up the venue tonight for ABC performing the whole of Lexicon of Love with the Southbank Sinfonia.

It’s all very civilised in the circle of the Theatre Royal and the orchestra enters the stage to polite applause. The band come on and the first half of the show is a selection of tunes from across the ABC back catalogue including three new songs with ‘Flames of Desire’ being the highlight for me.

However, this is very much the starter for tonight’s main course. I felt Martin Fry was holding a little back for the second half of the set and boy did he deliver.

Fry belying his years turns the clock back thirty years and delivers a faultless, almost, run through of the classic Lexicon of Love. Everyone knows the words to all of the songs and there’s very little filler on this classic pop album. The orchestra adds something to the proceedings and the format works really well.

Tonight’s show is being filmed and for continuity purposes we have 4 ever 2 gether repeated a couple of times but it all adds to the magic of the evening.

A great night out bringing back memories of the eighties and we’re all humming the tunes all the way back to the station.

There’s probably no single genre of music that represents the eighties quite as accurately, or as obviously, as new wave; it genuinely is synonymous with the decade, and among its genuine success stories were ABC, who formed in Sheffield back in 1980, right in time for the sound’s explosion. Their debut album The Lexicon of Love was a huge success on both sides of the Atlantic, topping the charts in the UK and making the top twenty-five over in the U.S., and spawned a slew of hits that were not only successes in terms of sales and radio play at the time, but continue to stand up as classics of the genre today, especially their signature song ‘Poison Arrow’. Although singer Martin Fry now remains the sole original member - he tours with a new backing group for the most part, with David Palmer only briefly rejoining him as part of VH1’s Bands Reunited programme in 2004 - the ABC name continues to be used for both live shows and new material, with Fry still proving himself both an engaging frontman and a fine singer, too. They regularly line up alongside other eighties acts like T’Pau and Rick Astley, so there’s plenty of opportunity for a multi-faceted blast of nostalgia where their shows are concerned, too.

New wave is a genre that is definitely enjoying a well deserved investment of interest from a modern audience. The easy listening vibes of Eurythmics and Spandau Ballet are now once again frequenting airwaves and one of the most popular UK artists of the new wave era was Sheffield outfit ABC. Martin Fry and company never stopped recording and touring yet they failed to recreate the commercial success of early releases including 'The Lexicon of Love' and 'Beauty Stab'.

This has never deterred the fans though who continue to pack out venues to hear classic tracks such as 'Poison Arrow' alongside newer releases. There has been a wonderfully 80s feel to all of ABC's releases and the tone does not change throughout the night. Even the newer material is accompanied by a large amount of brass instruments and catchy percussion before the saxophonist takes his moment during a complex instrumental solo. The energy levels are at fever pitch as Martin closes the evening with a double hit finale of 'When Smokey Sings' and 'The Look of Love'.

The band was great and Martin as classy as ever. It's a rare treat to get ABC stateside, so I was thrilled by the band, the songs, etc. Viva Live, Millionaire, Be Near Me highlights for me. But with that said, I was disappointed in the crowd that talked throughout the entire Retro Futura lineup. They were too busy noshing on chicken salad sandwiches and Prosecco to get off their rear ends to dance, show appreciation to the musical acts, etc. Chastain Park Ampitheater is a great venue -- I traveled from New Orleans to attend. But I won't go back unless the seated section is GA, as it is for numerous shows there. I didn't sign up for a garden party. And the number of people just absolutely trashed drunk afterward is absurd. Its BYOB there so be forewarned if there is table seating for the concert you've waited a lifetime to see, you might consider traveling a bit further to find a more appreciative audience. I bet Retro Futura does the same too -- every one of the six acts in this tour commented about how lame the audience was. Sad.

Was in UK for just four days June 2022. Saw Lisa Stansfield (amazing!) and Simply Red near Canterbury--great weather. The next day it was a tossup ABC in Bristol or Simple Minds at Blenheim Palace near Oxford the next day. I chose Simple Minds and it was rained out the entire concert. the brits had a great time but I wished the whole night I had chosen ABC in Bristol for their 40th anniversary tour. Will see them soon---must seem them in Ojai California state-side July 2022.

Great show at a great venue. The orchestra sounded fantastic and ABC as gòod as they always have. Only amazing point is that how come they didnt do more hits?

The first hall of the show was good but lacking in recognisable hits. They are hugely talented and sound fantastic but we had to wait until the 2nd half when lexicon of love was played before standing up and dancing was required. 37 years and their hits are as rare and valuable as his gold jacket.

Oh what memories!

Saw ABC live at a small pub in a northern Melbourne (Vic) several years ago and wow have they still got it, Martin is a smooth and polished performer and vocally still excellent. Now with the recent release of the Lexicon Of Love II I wait with great anticipation of a new tour of Australia..come on down under again please!!

Fantastic show! Orchestra was amazing,new songs and old. Up dancing in the aisles.

First time I've seen ABC live. Took my son with me who is a converted fan. Who would have thought 34 years since Lexicon of Love....

Staff at the venue were very helpful and attentive.

ABC is fantastic live!! My wife and I had such a great time last night at the Retro Futura concert at the Wiltern Theater - 07/29/2018.

If you get a chance to see them live, don't even think about it. You will not be disappointed. Martin Fry is one classy rock star!