Photos and review by Jennie Book
@jenniebookphotography

Anything Box got its start as a band in the late 80s, forged in the long shadow of Depeche Mode, New Order, and Erasure, and keyboarded its way into the hearts of fans alongside other lesser known but much beloved acts like Camouflage, Red Flag, Boxcar, and Seven Red Seven. As someone who last saw Anything Box live at The Whisky in 1992, anticipation was high for this January 25^th show at Neck of the Woods in San Francisco.

Anything Box in its heyday was a trio, and now records and tours as a solo act with Claude S at the helm, and aside from missing Dania Morales’s harmonies, Claude’s version of Anything Box is a full representation of what fans have always known and loved.

After some good turntable work from a DJ who fit Martin Gore’s “Compulsion” in between Erasure and Information Society tracks, the show kicked off around 10:20pm and went for about an hour fifteen, with the crowd being treated to hits from albums Peace, Hope, and Worth, plus a great cover of “Love Will Tear Us Apart.” Everyone in the crowd seemed to be there with purpose, like they were longtime fans, versus simply coming in off the street to hear live music, which made for a fun familial time in the small venue.

The energy stayed high throughout the whole show, and the setup onstage of keyboard, drum, and a ladder Claude banged on for effect made all of Anything Box’s music feel alive rather than just programmed into the Juno-6. Claude’s banter with the crowd was fun, and his voice has stayed in fine form all these years. The show closed with a fan asking to hear “Rise,” and Claude saying he hadn’t rehearsed it and wasn’t ready for it, but then he played it flawlessly.

Anything Box has scattered dates coming up, and for all the latest news and information check out www.anythingbox.com and @endpop.