It’s packed inside a sweltering Sub89 and with good cause, because tonight American Funk-Rock pioneers Living Colour is performing their seminal debut album ‘Vivid’ in its entirety. The sold-out crowd are treated to a live masterclass as the band roll back the decades, three to be precise, to spark a nostalgia-infused set of classic album cuts and fan faves. The four-piece seem to have brought the world’s biggest drum kit with them as it’s four huge cymbals almost touch the low stage ceiling but then this is an arena band playing in a club. They open with a curveball the superlative ‘Ignorance Is Bliss’ from 1993’s ‘Stain’ album, this may be in relation to ‘Vivid’ opening with one of the bands biggest and best songs. So we get, possibly one of the greatest rock songs ever written and a track that politically resonates more now that it did thirty years ago, on second. ‘Cult Of Personality’ is just a monster cut and is in desperate need of a re-release, the promo video could just be a Brexit, Tory leadership, Putin, Donald Trump mash-up.
The radio-friendly ‘I Want To Know’ is note-perfect before the stop-start beat of ‘Middle Man’ swirls into the ears with Living Colours genre-smashing Funk-Rock sound. ‘Open Letter To A Landlord’ holds the same timeless credence as ‘Cult’ in its message while ‘Funny Vibe’ gives a few the chance for a bathroom or bar visit. The musicianship throughout tonight’s gig peerless while Corey Glover’s vocals cause jaws to drop with some true spleen rupturing note locating. Talking Heads ‘Memories Can Wait’ is eclipsed by the beautifully delivered ballad ‘Broken Hearts’. Billboard top Forty smash ‘Glamour Boys’ still hits the spot and is celebrated with the nights biggest sing-a-long. The band’s theme song ‘What’s Your Favourite Color?’ is followed by a raucous ‘Which Way To America/Operation Mind Control’. Nostalgic bones are rattled once more as the poignant ‘Love Rears Its Ugly Head’ puts the collective hearts in a steel press. It’s ‘Type’ that bounces us towards curfew before the music stops and the party’s over.
The band famously played on the same bill as both The Rolling Stones/ Guns ‘N’ Roses and some thirty years on both Living Colour and ‘Vivid’ rightly deserve their place at Rock’s very top table.