Howard Jones Performs in SoCal This Week with ABC, Haircut 100; 'Live at the 02' Album Out Now

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George A. Paul
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George Paul Aug 19 567 views 1 Comment 1 Like 0 Reviews new wave pop music British Eighties Howard Jones ABC Haircut 100

Earlier this month, New Wave hitmaker Howard Jones released 'Live at the 02,' a concert album recorded last March in London via Cherry Red Records. The exciting collection features hits, fan favorites and a credibly snazzy cover of Kajagoogoo's '80s hit "Too Shy" accompanied by current touring band member and former Kajagoogoo bassist Nick Beggs (full track listing is below).

Highlights include "Like to Get to Know You Well," with Robin Boult's rockin' mini guitar solo; the sleek piano ballad "Hide and Seek" (which Jones prefaces by mentioning that he played it at Live Aid in 1985); "What is Love?" and some ample audience call and response action in "Things Can Only Get Better" (plus Coachella-worthy remix outro). "You Know I Love You, Don't You?" even gets an intense reworking.

'Live at the 02' is available in limited edition recycled color vinyl with full color inner sleeve as well as via standard CD format which includes a 464mm x 348mm pull-out poster featuring the cover shot of Howard performing live at the O2. Order the LP here through the UK label and here for the CD.

Jones is currently on the road in North America with fellow Eighties pop bands ABC ("The Look of Love," "Be Near Me," "Poison Arrow") and Haircut 100 ("Love Plus One"). The latter's last U.S. appearances were 40+ years ago. Jones dedicated his sets to the late Dan Clarke, 31, a Jones tour keyboardist onstage at the London show recording.

On Aug. 1, Jones posted to his socials, "It breaks my heart to bring you the news that our lovely Dan passed away on Sunday of cardiac arrest. Dan Clarke was a beloved member of my band. He brought energy and joy every night to the stage and was such great company on tour...I will miss him so much. Words are never enough."

In 2022, Jones put out 'Dialogue,' the third album in a trilogy of electronic releases, with multi-media project 'Engage' (2015) and studio album 'Transform' (2019).

Haircut 100 singer/lead guitarist Nick Heyward said of the jaunt: “Ever since our last tour in 1982, we’ve been pining to play in North America again, so this is a dream come true for us. Come down early and get your dancing shoes on, because there’s a lot of catching up to do.” Fellow co-founding members Graham Jones (guitars), Les Nemes (bass) and five additional players will be playing onstage with brass and percussion.

'Live at the 02' LP track listing:

SIDE 1

1. Intro
2. Pearl In The Shell
3. New Song
4. Like To Get To Know You Well
5. The One To Love You
6. Too Shy

SIDE 2
1. Hide & Seek
2. The Human Touch
3. You Know I Love You… Don’t You?
4. What Is Love?
5. Things Can Only Get Better
6. Things Can Only Get Better (Remix)

Tour dates:

AUGUST

20 Inglewood, CA YouTube Theater
21 Del Mar, CA The Sound

22 Mesa, AZ Celebrity Theater
24 Oklahoma City, OK The Zoo Amphitheatre

25 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theater
28 Columbus, OH TempleLive At Columbus Athenaeum
29 Windsor, ON Canada Caesars Windsor – The Colosseum
30 Niagara Falls, ON Canada Fallsview Casino Resort
31 Cleveland, OH TempleLive At Cleveland Masonic

SEPTEMBER

1 Huntington, NY The Paramount
4 Montclair, NJ The Wellmont
5 Port Chester, NY The Capitol Theatre
6 Huntington, NY The Paramount