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…