Photos and review by Jennie Book
@jenniebookphotography

Audiences have been the grateful recipients of an abundant Howard Jones touring schedule these past few years, and we’re lucky he’s back with another round, which he kicked off at the Masonic in San Francisco on the night of February 6. On a bill alongside ABC, and with DJ Richard Blade on board as an ’80s music hype man and historian, the night was a fun dive into nostalgic synth-pop.

Richard Blade warmed the early-arriving, mostly Gen X crowd by playing hits from Duran Duran, The Cure, and Depeche Mode while providing fun anecdotes about each of them (“Whichever Duran Duran member you’d pick to date says a lot about your personality”), and also took selfies from the stage with what looked like OG fans. He was the right man for the warm-up job, given his unwavering love for new wave and his best-in-the-business reputation for having broken UK acts to US audiences in the early ’80s via KROQ in Los Angeles alongside MTV’s 120 Minutes’ Kevin Seal and Dave Kendall.

ABC came to the stage right on time, with frontman Martin Fry looking fly in his yellow quilted tuxedo jacket, and launched into the set with “When Smokey Sings.” The crowd was ecstatic and, maybe like me, had never seen ABC live, so forty years of anticipation was running heavy through the venue. Martin’s voice is the same as it was in 1982 and sounds great live. The band played a 12-song set, including hits like “(How to Be a) Millionaire” and “Poison Arrow,” before closing the night with “Be Near Me” and “The Look of Love.” Great set, crowd ecstatic—everybody got exactly what they’d hoped for.

Howard Jones came out next, looking the fantastic rock star part in his colorful, peacocky jacket and sunglasses. The fans were welcoming and excited for his 13-song set, and he got into it pretty fast with “Like to Get to Know You Better” and “New Song.” He played Kajagoogoo’s “Too Shy,” which was extra special because Kajagoogoo’s Nick Beggs is playing bass on this tour– reportedly the same bass Beggs played for the original recording. If basses could talk, that one could tell some stories.

The crowd sang along to more hits like “Life in One Day,” “No One Is to Blame,” “Everlasting Love,” and “What Is Love?” before the night closed with a thumping EDM mix of “Things Can Only Get Better.” With a career like Jones has had, filled with so many hits, an entire set can be packed with chart-toppers, and that’s exciting for a crowd of nostalgic former ’80s kids who just want to drink expensive zinfandel, dance, and sing the night away. Howard Jones definitely gave them what they wanted.

The Richard Blade/ABC/Howard Jones tour continues through the beginning of March. For all the latest news and information, check out www.howardjones.com and @thehowardjones.