Tom Bailey Serves A Showcase Of Thompson Twins Hits For Australia

Tom Bailey is treating Australian fans to their first concentrated dose of Thompson Twins hits for the first time in over 30 years.

Thompson Twins had incredible chart success in Australia in the 80s with a handful of hits you still hear today on radio. The album ‘Into The Gap’ was the big one, landing at no 4 in Australia and supplying the two iconic pop songs ‘Doctor Doctor’ and ‘Hold Me Now’, both firmly positioned at the end of Tom’s set.

Tom is touring Australia as special guest of Culture Club with his all female band Angie Pollock (Peter Gabriel/Goldfrapp) on vocals and keyboards, Amanda Kramer (The Psychedelic Furs/Information Society) on vocals and keyboards and Paulina Szczepaniak on electronic drums.

Seeing Tom perform these songs for the first time in three decades makes you realise how big Thompson Twins were right at that 80s pop point that gave the world acts like Culture Club and Duran Duran, all artists that stood the test of time.

The “comeback” is always interesting to watch and judging by audience reaction, this is extremely good timing for Tom. Tom didn’t even need to turn up for ‘Hold Me Now’, the audience knew and sang every word.

The sound was pretty shabby. It is funny how it magically corrected itself when Culture Club took the stage. It’s a shame that headline acts still play that game of giving acts before them a cut down version of audio quality. What Tom lacked from the sound desk he more than made up for with the setlist. With limited time there was only room for seven songs but the audience knew every one of them.

Missing songs like ‘Don’t Mess With Dr Dream’, ‘In The Name Of Love’ and ‘Sister of Mercy’ gives a good excuse for Tom Bailey to come back and do his own shows.

The half-filled Rod Laver Arena also affected the sound. I can only imagine how good a stand alone show in Australia’s club like 170 Russell would go. Tom, you really need to come back on your own terms and do shows at the places the fans frequent for music.

PHOTO GALLERY: Tom Bailey in Melbourne by Ros O’Gorman

Tom Bailey setlist Melbourne, 30 November 2017

Lies (from Quick Step and Side Kick, 1983)
You Take Me Up (from Into The Gap, 1984)
King For A Day (from Here’s To Future Days, 1985)
Love On Your Side (from Quick Step and Side Kick, 1983)
Lay Your Hands On Me (from Here’s To Future Days, 1985)
Doctor Doctor (from Into The Gap, 1984)
Hold Me Now (from Into The Gap, 1984)