simple-minds-beacon
photo: @themaladjustedguy

Simple Minds played Beacon Theatre (pics, setlist, video)

Simple Minds are the sort of band that everyone knows but less know. Obviously “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” from The Breakfast Club soundtrack, is a single that will outlast Twinkies/roaches/all non-perishable goods but, otherwise, the Scottish band only had a few other hit songs in the US, and nothing that moved the needle quite like that. Simple Minds were a much bigger band in the UK, though, with over 20 singles that broke the Top 40 there, including “Up on the Catwalk,” “Waterfront,” “Glittering Prize,” and, of course, the mega-banger (and their second biggest U.S. hit) “Alive & Kicking.”

Equally impressive, Simple Minds have never slowed down, releasing LPs every few years for the entirety of their four-decade career, including this year’s Walk Between Worlds which was their 18th studio long-player. The group, including singer Jim Kerr and fellow founding member Charlie Burchill, are currently on their first North American tour in five years, and hit NYC’s Beacon Theater on Tuesday night (10/2), playing two full sets that spanned the group’s entire career. Backed by a killer light show, Simple Minds ripped through a couple dozen of the band’s favorites at the historic venue, opening with their recent single “The Signal and the Noise” before bouncing into the Sparkle in the Rain classic “Waterfront.”

There were deep dives too, including “Theme for Great Cities” (Simple Minds are actually great at instrumentals), which opened the second set. They closed the main show with “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” and “New Gold Dream” and finished the night with encores of Once Upon a Time singles “Sanctify Yourself” and “Alive and Kicking.”

Head below for video and full setlist from their Beacon Theatre gig.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBXdQVfj0vw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdD2q57I6rQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJbl6VIUFqs

SETLIST: Simple Minds @ Beacon Theatre 10/2/2018 (via)
Set 1
The Signal and the Noise
Waterfront
I Travel
Glittering Prize
Up on the Catwalk
Sense of Discovery
Promised You a Miracle
The American
Hunter and the Hunted
Stand by Love
Dirty Old Town (Ewan MacColl cover)

Set 2
Theme For Great Cities (Intro)
She’s a River
Walk Between Worlds
Hypnotised
Someone Somewhere in Summertime
See the Lights
All the Things She Said
Dolphins
Don’t You (Forget About Me)
New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)

Encore:
Five to One / Book of Brilliant Things
Alive and Kicking
Sanctify Yourself