BOY GEORGE at THE SHOW
Story and Photos by Pat Krause

Boy George came to rock THE SHOW on Saturday, the 14th.

This time, there were no seats on the floor in front of the stage. Instead, hundreds of fans filled the open space, packing the area so tightly it looked like there was barely room to move. Everyone wanted to get as close to Boy George as possible. Cell phones were held high everywhere, capturing photos and videos of the legendary artist. At several moments during the show, Boy George leaned down toward the crowd and shook hands with a few lucky fans gathered right along the stage.

Boy George arrived in his usual unconventional attire. He wore a jacket of multi-colored plaids with matching pants and, of course, his signature multi-plaid hat. His stage presence was unmistakable. With his relaxed, sauntering style of dancing, he moved easily across the stage, performing in a way that is completely his own. Before many of the songs he took a moment to speak with the audience, his unmistakable English accent coming through clearly as he chatted with the crowd.

During the evening he performed songs including London, Standing Tall, Miracle, Time, and Purple Rain. I have to admit I was a little disappointed not to hear two of his most famous songs, Do You Really Want To Hurt Me and Karma Chameleon. Still, the fans clearly loved everything he performed. When the lights swept across the main floor you could see arms raised high and hundreds of heads bobbing along with the music.

At one point Boy George performed a duet with one of his backup singers, who I believe was Helen Terry. She has an amazing voice. The Culture Club band also featured many talented musicians and singers. Something that caught my attention was the presence of two drummers in the background, which added an interesting layer to the sound. Various instruments were used throughout the performance, giving each song its own unique feel. In a fun moment during the show, a very young girl even came on stage and danced with the group.

The music was very loud—so loud you could actually feel the vibrations in your seat and under your feet. Boy George clearly knows how to command a stage and truly rock a crowd. Few people realize that he also started part of his career with the spiritual-themed project Jesus Loves You and is a very talented songwriter.

THE SHOW continues to bring well-known performers to its stage. Upcoming appearances include the Chippendales, David Foster and Katharine McPhee, and The Price Is Right Live.