SPANDAU BALLET returns to the US .. and shows how they are better now than ever

If you are anywhere near Westbury Music Fair ... I suggest you go tonight  (May 3rd) to see SPANDAU BALLET . Live they are as the Brits say ... "BILLIANT"  Their film "Soul Boys of the Western World"

  is in limited release in the US  (now at IFC in NYC) and will explain what happened to a band that sold over 25 million records worldwide ...and its one of the best best music docs I have seen on how success confronts high school lads with a band dream . I presented them in their US debut in the early '80's and were thrilled to intro them  at their first US come back date at SXSW last year .. when they proved not to be a nostalgic band but a band with problems solved that had not lost their creative juices and actually were playing better than ever . Gary Kemp has written new songs to show off their chops and Tony Hadley remains along with Boy George the best Brit Pop singer to come along since David Bowie ... this is the last show in the US ...next leg Australia ...but they will be back playing some festival dates in the Summer . Yes they went from dancefloor club hits like To Cut A Long Story Short

to literally pop anthems like TRUE  Here played live in 2009 as part of the European REFORMATION show.




 and Through the Barricades  note the hair and clothes

.. but they can still simmer despite what ever the genre . If you went to the original Danceteria or Hurrah you heard Mark Kamins and Shawn Cassette mix them in at peak moments ..... artist who can cross genres and make hook filled songs are what makes a musical journey possible through the growing up process in public... I have my fingers crossed that they repeat their version of Lou Reed's Satellite of Love


that stopped the show at SXSW when they performed at the Lou Reed Memorial concert organized by Richard Barone and Alejandro Escovedo      

here is a review from Newsday of the Beacon NYC show May 2nd Newsday review of May 2nd 2015 SPANDAU BALLET NYC live show

And first person blog Beacon show review of Paul Hallasy (gay stand up comic) who had been at their US debut show I presented as part of the Modern Classix series at the Underground 

Paul Hallasy review Spandau Ballet at Beacon

SXSW 2914 : BORN TO FLY world premier post screening Q&A with director Catherine Gund and subject Elizabeth STREB

SXSW Left Tilda Swinton's public conversation (oh no you think...but I have had the same conversation with her privately) to go see the world premier of Catherine Gund's BORN TO FLYthe Elizabeth STREB documentary Both women, director Gund and choreographer-provocateur Streb  have each had  the courage to take flight. Gund best know for her kid-centric  healthy food and how to cook it documentary A PLATE AT THE  TABLE takes a wild leap forward and documents the body challenging feats of dance that signify STREB company physical discipline, BORN TO FLY is a  masterful example of complicated story telling, All I can say is WOW.. and how did they do THAT? This live action rel time footage has none of the new tricks of simulation Hollywood Action Hero flicks have . What you see is actually happening.

Gund shot some amazing STRB dances including the endorphin shower of doing and watching STEB walk down the sleek, slippery totally glass top to bottom of the London City Hall during the London Olympics in 2012 ... BORN TO FLY is lyrical with out being sentimental.The arch of film is letting go of fear ...... to fly. Going beyond the limits fear resticts imagination and physical accomplishment,This is dance at it most muscular poetic beauty (Film Forum in Sept)  

Watch the post screening world premier