Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark live in Leeds

OMD at Leeds First Direct Arena on 5.3.2024 with Walt Disco supporting

My first gig in Leeds so I thought I’d note my attendance at this one.

I first saw OMD in Battersea Park, London in 1985 as part of a Greater London Council funded festival. Those early singles – Messages, Electricity and of course Enola Gay – have always been on something of a pedestal but the latter was the only one I bought. 

It wasn’t until 34 years later that I saw them again, in Bournemouth, and my blog on that and looking back can be found here: 2019 Bournemouth gig

As time has gone on, I think OMD’s place in music history has blossomed. Quite unique in the UK charts in the 80s, while paying homage to the sound of Kraftwerk – they still set up like them for part of the show.

The First Direct Arena opened in 2013 and the stated capacity is just under 14,000. Tonight, it has areas of the steep curved bank of seats blanked out with black covering, with a large standing area in front of the stage. It’s more D-shaped so you get a decent view from anywhere: not bad for an arena. Maybe it expands its floorspace for some events but this D-shape works better than the long arenas that leave too many gig-goers way back from the stage. This is a pretty big crowd for OMD to pull in despite not selling out.

It is an arena mind. Inside it’s still like an airport car park in the concourses and bar areas outside the main auditorium. It’s still a ridiculous price for a drink and eating should be seen as an expensive survival activity only.

But it’s great to be in Leeds, seeing a live show as part of our spring tour up north.

Tonight’s support band is Walt Disco. A short set, cut shorter by a stoppage for a medical incident down the front, but appealingly 80s. Yes very 80s pop, even the big trousers. I enjoyed them and would happily go and see them in a smaller venue sometime.

OMD get off to a bright start with Messages played after the opener, followed by Tesla Girls, so familiar sounds there.

Andy McCluskey is a good crowd rouser and is the only really mobile band member, bass playing for large parts of the set. Other original member Paul Humphreys does leave his synth to lead the vocals, stage front at one point. McCluskey makes reference to Leeds United’s home game possibly distracting some this evening – a murmur of cheer – but they’re here for the music.

There’s a new album: Bauhaus Staircase and I gave it some Spotify plays in anticipation – yup, sound – and seven tracks are played this evening, including the title track which I recorded and saved on my YouTube Channel here.

The setlist (link here) notably includes Joan of Arc, and Maid of Orleans. I grabbed another video of the single If You Leave , also saved on that YouTube channel.

(I tend to just record one or two, using zoom camera, and ditch if no good. Some venues just lend themselves better to do this without getting in the way, waving a device about.)

But it’s Enola Gay that is the standout OMD song to hear and see played live. With the added backdrop film and the better sense of the history now, than when it hit the charts, it’s an emotional piece.

That was the last song of the main set. They return for three encores which include Electricity. The 1979 single being the theme tune of OMD I guess. A fine way to end a really good evening and another track which is so enhanced by being clearly amplified and played loud.