PET SHOP BOYS
CHICAGO THEATRE
MONDAY, SEP 14 2009

And a big, huge round of applause, and a standing ovation goes to the Pet Shop Boys! I’m rejuvanated…I’m reinvigorated…I’m grateful that they have restored the faith in me in regards to live performance! Talk about a complete 180 from over the weekend and U2 at Soldier Field…nothing compares to the intimacy and the acoustics of the glorious Chicago Theatre.

I’ve seen every show through Chicago of the Pet Shop Boys, and this current tour stands out on so many levels..not just the Boys themselves, but also the unique set design consisting of cubes, in a variety of shapes and sizes, which was designed by Es Devlin, whom I’ve heard has done quite a few operas over the years…and kudos to Neil and Chris to seek these outstanding and creative minds out…and letting them create a breathtaking environment for the songs to be portrayed and come forth.. what an ingenoiusly theatrical 90 minute set!

The Boys were accompanied by four dancers, who were affixed with cubes, similar to the stage set, in a variety of colors and sizes…the video backdrops also were vivid in detail, done with great elegance and taste, adding perfect nuance to the songs, and to Neil’s vocals and theatricality…you have to hand it to them, to thoughtfully prepare such a glorious presentation…

The older songs, such as Suburbia, Being Boring, New York City Boy, Go West, West End Girls (their biggest hit) and It’s a Sin, along with others, came off amazingly fresh, and were sung with that Pet Shop Boys polish…the new songs, such as Love, Etc, and particularly Did you see me Coming? are absolutely beautiful and vibrant sung live…the covers, and their are always quite a few, take on a life of their own,particularly Coldplay”s Viva La Vida, in which Neil comes out in full Richard the III garb including the royal golden crown.

The Pets are the masters of their game…Neil and Chris, 25 years on (hard to believe that)still have it going on all cylinders..they definitely rule when it comes to sophisticated electronic dance pop…such an amazing performance…

So here I am in Soldier Field, preparing for what I expect to be a big, grandiose whale of a time, circa the ZOO TV tour that U2 did back in 1992. As I settle into my area to get into position to photograph this event, I’m watching 3 girls about 10 feet in front of me getting absolutely giddy in anticipation of seeing their favorite band come out onstage live- and in person! I mean getting crazy nutty in anticipation. That only excites me more- seeing a crowd this big, let alone individuals around me getiing all worked up.

Talk about a massive, gargantuan stage…I’ve never seen anyhting like it ever…it looks like it’s approximately 200 feet tall or so, and it’s the width of the entire football field. From my unique vantage point, it’s unsettling to know I still feel to far away from the main stage, even though I’m between the stage and the massive outer ring.

As the lights begin to dim and the band comes out to the pulse of “Breathe” from their latest album “No Line on the Horizon”, it feels like the stadium is in a trance from the pulse of the beat. Most of the songs off “No Line” work live; they make you feel hypnotized, like in a trance. And definitely, some don’t.”Get on Your Boots” leaves me befuddled- too much noisy confusion and blinding lighting.

Overall, I feel despondent and confused about this show.Here’s this absolutely massive techno stage- with U2 on it. The comparison of techno and U2 leaves me wondering halfway through this show: what can kick it up a notch? How about hiring out Daft Punk, and let them have free reign on reinterpreting U2 songs, putting some swing and dance into this setlist?

Even better: how about a mix of Chicago house DJ’s spinning over these glorious songs to punch them up a bit? Fuck the purists, something needs to be done to get this show alive and kicking.I want more from these guys than I’m getting at this concert. The problem with such massive build-up and hype, especially from what I heard overseas where this tour got off the ground: BIGGER LETDOWN…YAWWWWN…please stop all the political chattering…we all get it, ok? Just give us loud, pulsating music.

They definitely do deliver it at times:”Where the Streets Have no Name”- who would’ve thought that they’d give this a refreshing BPM rhythm train- and I’ll go Crazy” off the new album went into dance overdrive.

And that’s it. I’m left questioning things more than coming out satisfied. I’m wondering what the fuss is all about, besides the look of this extraordinarily beautiful stage and the special lighting and visuals. Again, could you imagine them touring with Daft Punk? Or how about Deadmau5? NOW WE’RE TALKING…If, only if….Oh well..