NOTE: All photos are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography 2025
At the age of 67, 80s hit-maker Howard Jones continues to tour extensively. Yes, those high notes are a little harder to hit now but his fans are there to help him through those. I covered his Acoustic Trio tour when he, bassist and ex-Kajagoogoo member Nick Beggs, and guitarist Robin Boult performed in Ithaca, NY back in February but I obviously can’t get enough of one of my college musical heroes. This time when Howard Jones, along with the other two members of his trio, hit Asbury Hall/Babeville in Buffalo, they would be backed by a full band.
Opening for Jones was another 80s legend, Midge Ure (aka James Ure), member of Ultravox, Visage, Thin Lizzy, and a solo artist. If you’re not already familiar, he also organized Band Aid and Live Aid with Bob Geldof. He played music from throughout his career and was also quite to comedian in between songs. I was a bit disappointed that the crowd was pretty sedate with only a couple of people getting up to dance. His final song “Dancing with Tears in My Eyes” finally got the crowd moving. I was very impressed with his vocal range (except for the highest notes on the finale) as well as his musicianship on guitar and keyboards and especially liked “Fade to Grey”, his hit with Visage. Take a listen to his solo work in the 2000s. You won’t be disappointed.
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The audience came alive when Howard Jones and band came on stage. With just a little encouragement, everyone stood up and danced in their seats, making it just a little more difficult for this photographer to navigate. He got into it straightaway with “Pearl in the Shell” and went through hit after hit. I was hoping for a little more from his 2019 album Transform because I had only heard him perform those songs with the Acoustic Trio and believe they would be amazing with the full band. Also, for once he didn’t play “City Song”, written about my home town. However, it’s hard to complain about the awesome setlist.
As in his last tour, he performed Kajagoogoo’s “Too Shy”, a song written by Nick Beggs. The big hit was when Midge Ure came on-stage to sing a duet version of “Do They Know It’s Christmas” with Jones. Yes it was about 80 degrees outside and, no, we didn’t know it was Christmas. 😜
Jones closed out the show and encore with “Hide and Seek”, one of mine (and it seems his) favorite songs. I was a bit surprised he didn’t close with something upbeat and danceable to leave the crowd on a high note. Nevertheless, it was an incredible show and, if he were to come back in three months, I’d be there in the audience once again.
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