The Human League at Leeds First Direct Arena review: Synth pop legends wow in set packed with hits
Electronic synth pop classics echoed in the festive December air as The Human League stopped in Leeds as part of their latest tour.
Frontman Phil Oakey, alongside Susan Ann Sulley, Joanne Catherall and their supporting cast, performed at Leeds First Direct Arena on Friday evening. Formed in Sheffield, back in 1977, there was a real sense of Yorkshire pride when the Human League took to the stage at the Leeds city centre venue.
Before their arrival, T’Pau and kitchen disco queen Sophie Ellis-Bextor did a perfect job getting the masses warmed up. The sparkly, and rather kicky, Ellis-Bextor, 45, declared: “It is magical being a support act for The Human League.”
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Her troupe treated the thousands in attendance to Crying at The Discoteque, Take Me Home and Murder on The Dancefloor - the latter earning something of a renaissance in recent years thanks to the film Saltburn.
The hits kept coming as the Human League landed, being lowered from up above, on their white spaceship-like set. Neon lights beamed all around as Love Action and Mirror Man received early airings much to the delight of those spread across the arena’s three tiers.
The 69-year-old Oakey’s voice was in fine form as it bellowed in conjunction with those distinctive synthesiser sounds. The frontman also got his steps in on Friday night as covered every spot on the stage.
A touching moment came when Susan Ann Sulley briefly stopped proceedings to play tribute to a family member in the audience. Tell Me When and Fascination were further highlights from the main set which closed with iconic pop hit Don’t You Want Me.
Arguably bringing a festive feel to the mid-December show as the famous track was, of course, Christmas No.1 back in 1981. The Human League, who headlined Sheffield festival Tramlines earlier this year, returned for a two-song encore which paid tribute to Oakey’s work with Giorgio Moroder.
Together in Electric Dreams sent the crowd off into the night. As Oakey declared: “Thank you very much Leeds, you’ve been fantastic.”
Setlist
Hard Times
Love Action (I Believe in Love)
Mirror Man
Heart Like a Wheel
Behind the Mask
Life on Your Own
The Lebanon
One Man in My Heart
The Path of Least Resistance
Empire State Human
Louise
Soundtrack to a Generation
All I Ever Wanted
Open Your Heart
The Sound of the Crowd
Tell Me When
(Keep Feeling) Fascination
Don't You Want Me
Encore
Good-Bye Bad Times
Together in Electric Dreams
To find out the latest event news in our city you can visit our Best in Leeds homepage. There you will also find a guide to great things to do in Leeds. Stuck at home and wishing you were there? Download your favourite artists from Amazon and Apple music.
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