Nostalgia Runs Wild for Culture Club at Kauffman

With all of its original members reunited, London’s profoundly influential new wave band Culture Club performed live at the Muriel Kauffman Theatre inside the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts last night as a part of its world tour celebrating 35 years.

Fronted by the flamboyant Boy George, the group formed in 1981 and was an instant international success upon the release of its debut album, “Kissing to Be Clever” (1982). Culture Club released three major records before departing in 1986. Although the members met again a handful of times throughout their span, this tour is the first time in more than 14 years that the original crew—Boy George (vocals), Roy Hay (guitar), Mikey Craig (bass) and Jon Moss (drums)—is back together.

The concert was the second of the “Kauffman Center Presents” series active throughout the summer season and, despite a lighter than expected crowd, the energy and nostalgia were overflowing. Backed by three soulful vocalists, a keyboardist, a three-man horn section and a second percussionist, Culture Club dazzled its fans for close to two hours with both the hits and a handful of tunes from its upcoming album, “Tribes” (2016). The night was kicked off with “Church of the Poison Mind” (1983), the lead single from the group’s follow-up record, “Colour by Numbers” (1983).

CULTURE CLUB SETLIST | “Church of the Poison Mind,” “It’s a Miracle,” “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya,” “Move Away,” “Human Zoo,” “Everything I Own” (Bread cover), “Black Money,” “Time (Clock of the Heart),” “Like I Used To,” “Different Man,” “Miss Me Blind,” “The Crying Game” (Dave Berry cover), “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?,” “Victims,” “More Than Silence” and “The War Song”; Encore – “Runaway Train,” “Karma Chameleon” and “Get It On (Bang a Gong)”

An abundance of youthful exuberance filled the stage and slices of hilarity interjected each tune. Boy George even shared a small anecdote about breaking into the United States. A member of Spandau Ballet first alerted him of Culture Club’s airplay on US radio. The band’s debut record had been sent out with a plain white sleeve without knowledge. Can you imagine what would have happened if people would have seen a picture of us, he questioned the crowd rhetorically. He then laughed in the memory of the band’s first US tour and the moment he and the members took to the stage amidst audiences full of jaw droppers.

Those live sounds were formidable and that nostalgic vibe came and went as the band entered and exited the stage as if it follows everywhere the members go. With a conglomeration of genres from new wave to R&B plus a dash of reggae, fans were swaying and lovers were grooving throughout Culture Club’s entire set. There was certain cinematic feel to the evening, and it was amplified by the intimate setting. At a particular moment, the entire crowd, front orchestra to the box seats, was on its feet, everyone clapping their hands above their heads and to the beat. And, in that instant, it truly felt as if we were living in the climatic moment of some perfect story where a heralded group of yesteryear makes its triumphant return.