Unthwarted by a relentless heat wave, the British post-punk headliners captivated a sold-out Meijer Gardens audience for their Sunday tour stop, with a boost from openers The Chameleons.
The Psychedelic Furs: A career-spanning set amid hot, sultry conditions. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO GALLERY, SET LIST
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As the Midwest continues to buckle under the weight of a seemingly unending “heat dome,” West Michigan new wave fans turned out in sweaty-but-spirited droves to support a double-whammy lineup of British post-punk icons Sunday evening at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
It was a sell-out for the Meijer Gardens debut of headliners, The Psychedelic Furs — led by brothers Richard Butler (vocals) and Tim Butler (bass) — and supporting act, The Chameleons.
A good swath of the predominantly Gen X audience spent much of the night standing, dancing and singing along to familiar favorites, including, of course, the headliners’ biggest hits “Pretty in Pink” and “Love My Way.”
And while an air of upbeat nostalgia ruled the day, the show was not without a tense moment or two. After beginning about 15 minutes past the listed start time and just a few songs into their set, The Chameleons (rightly) paused for about five minutes while a young fan near the stage received emergency medical aid. We all hate to see it happen, but are grateful that the Meijer Gardens team prioritizes health and safety and is quick to respond in these circumstances — particularly given the high heat indexes of late.
Taking Aim at Nostalgia: The Chameleons (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Assured things were all clear and the guest was stable, the affable vocalist/bassist Mark Burgess and team resumed a brief but crowd-pleasing set.
Older songs such as “Swamp Thing” and closer “Don’t Fall,” married well with a few (“Where are You?” and “Saviors are a Dangerous Thing”) from their forthcoming album — the first in 24 years — “Arctic Moon.” The band’s (which enjoys a respectable cult following) darker, post-punk energy was a fun departure from the venue’s typical vibe. As one fan quipped: “it’s like goth in the Gardens!”
The Psychedelic Furs showed their staying power, offering up a career-spanning, nearly-20-song set, kicking off the night with “President Gas,” and rolling out some of their most popular tunes, including “Love My Way,” “Pretty in Pink” and the aforementioned hits, “Heaven” and “Until She Comes.”
UP NEXT AT MEIJER GARDENS’ SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: The Verve Pipe performs with the Grand Rapids Symphony at 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 7. The show is sold out. This week’s Tuesday Evening Music Club show will feature sets by MexiCuba and Cabildo.
PHOTO GALLERY: The Psychedelic Furs, Chameleons at Meijer Gardens
Photos by Anthony Norkus
SET LIST: The Psychedelic Furs at Meijer Gardens
Setlist.fm
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