Starlight Theatre Featured Culture Club’s “The Letting It Go Show” Tour
Boy George and his band Culture Club performed live in concert at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, MO during their summer outing on August 8, 2023. Dubbed as “The Letting It Go Show” tour, the 25-date North American trek featured special guests Howard Jones plus Terri Nunn and Berlin. It was a night packed full of new wave and synth-pop icons and all of their hits.
Berlin took to the stage first with a dazzling performance worthy of a headlining spot. Fans who didn’t arrive or make it to their seats early certainly missed out on quite the performance. We do not get Berlin in town nearly enough, though the band did entertain us with a fun drive-in concert at Town Center Plaza during the pandemic era, circa 2020. Although a great memory for the times, it was good getting outside under the summer sun with the group, and the members certainly appreciated the fan interactions and cheers after each song. The band consists of frontwoman Terri Nunn, co-founder John Crawford (bass) and classic member David Diamond (guitar) alongside Carlton Bost (guitar), Dave Schulz (keyboards) and Ric “Rocc” Roccapriore (drums). The set included hits like “No More Words” and the chart-topping “Take My Breath Away” from the the “Top Gun” soundtrack, as well as an incredible cover of The Cult’s tune, “She Sells Sanctuary.”
English electro-legend Howard Jones was up next with a set full of hits that had fans dancing and singing the night away. He performed at Starlight Theatre on June 4, 2016, which was his first time in Kansas City in 30 years. We since then got a Howard Jones concert at Ameristar Casino, but we would love to see him in town on a regular basis. Joining him on stage were regular band mates Robin Boult (guitar) and Robbie Bronnimann (keyboards) alongside Dan Clarke (keyboards/percussion) and Nick Beggs (bass) of Kajagoogoo. From the sweet and sentimental “No One Is to Blame” to the ever-energetic “What Is Love?,” the audience was captivated throughout the entire site. As Kajagoogoo never got to play in the US, we were even treated with the band’s biggest hit, “Too Shy.” The remix performance of “Things Can Only Get Better” to close it out was truly a knockout punch.
After one more brief intermission to reset the stage and the last bit of sunlight dropped, Boy George and Culture Club came crashing onto the stage. The curtain dropped to reveal the frontman at the top of a set of stairs between his drummer and percussionist singing the band’s newest song, “Next Thing Will Be Amazing.” Sporting a pink polka-dotted jean jacket and pink star-studded hat, Boy George and his 8-member band—including founding members Roy Hay (guitar) and Mikey Craig (bass)—had fans bopping throughout the rest of the evening, especially with the sensational saxophone playing. They performed a handful of Top 10 hits, such as “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” “Time (Clock of the Heart), “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya” and the chart-topping “Karma Chameleon.” However, it was possibly “Miss Me Blind,” which stole the set.
Berlin Setlist at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City:
“Masquerade,” “No More Words,” “The Metro,” “Animal,” “Transcendance,” “Take My Breath Away,” “She Sells Sanctuary” (The Cult) and “Sex (I’m a…)”
Howard Jones Setlist at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City:
“Pearl in the Shell,” “Like to Get to Know You Well,” “Everlasting Love,” “New Song,” “Too Shy” (Kajagoogoo), “No One Is to Blame,” “Celebrate It Together,” “What Is Love?” and “Things Can Only Get Better”
Culture Club Setlist at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City:
“Next Thing Will Be Amazing,” “It’s a Miracle,” “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya,” “Melodrama,” “Everything I Own” (Bread), “Let It Go,” “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” “Angle of Mercy,” “That’s the Way (I’m Only Tryin to Help You),” “Church of the Poison Mind”/”I’m Your Man,” “Time (Clock of the Heart)” and “Miss Me Blind”; Encore – “Sympathy for the Devil (The Rolling Stones),” “Karma Chameleon” and “Get It On” (T. Rex)
