NOTE: All photos are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography 2025
It was Pretty in Pink and 80s high school proms all over again last night at History in Toronto. If you were music aware in the 80s, there’s no way you could avoid not knowing Orchestral Manouevres in the Dark and their brand of electronic dance music. While they were not the first pioneers (like Kraftwerk and Gary Numan), they did end up influencing future new wave bands (in fact, I saw a young band last month called Nation of Language that formed due to OMD). Bassist and lead vocalist Andy McCluskey does mention that DM’s Vince Clarke became interested in electronic music from listening to OMD, so Depeche Mode, Yazoo, and Erasure fans can thank OMD in some fashion. I was lucky enough to catch OMD during their History of Modern tour back in 2011 and I was so happy they are touring North America again.
The current Souvenir Greatest Hits tour celebrates the 40th (delayed) anniversary of the Humphreys penned hit single “Souvenir” from their “Architecture & Morality” album. They haven’t released any new music since 2017’s “The Punishment of Luxury” but the setlist was sure to be chock full of fan favorites.
Opening for OMD was Grand Rapids, MI based indie rock band In The Valley Below. They had a minor hit with “Peaches” back in 2014 and recently released a new song “Lie With Me”. With Angela Mattson (vocals, keyboards, bass) belting out the vocals and Jeffrey Mendel shredding on guitar, the set was really fun but you wouldn’t be able to tell from watching the crowd who seemed mostly interested in getting intoxicated. Either way, check out the video for their latest here.
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The OMD set started in the dark with lead vocalist/bassist Andy McCluskey with his back to the audience. It seemed apropos since the first three songs were some of their lesser known tracks. It wasn’t until McCluskey strapped on the bass (keyboardist Paul Humphreys said it meant that older songs were coming) and we heard those first few notes of their first UK top 20 hit “Messages” that we knew it was time to put on our dancing shoes. Besides a couple of songs in the middle of the set where the band lined up in front of the stage to perform (a tribute to Kraftwerk, one of their greatest influences), it was a big party straight out of the 80s. I’m always flabbergasted when I hear that 20 year old voice coming out of Humphreys, who looks like he could be your social studies teacher! It was also pretty amazing to see McCluskey still up there doing his signature “awkward” dancing, which we all love by the way.
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They came back for an incredible encore, starting with THAT SONG “If You Leave”, wrapping up with “Secret” and “Electricity”. I had a brief conversation with Paul Humphreys before the show and he indicated that they will continue to tour as long as they think they can put on a great show. We’re all very fortunate and happy that they did put on a great show and will hopefully continue to perform for a long time.
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