Concert Review
Tears For Fears
Artpark
Lewiston, NY
Wednesday June 14, 2017
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
Tears For Fears took a break for one night from their current tour with Hall & Oates to finally play the outdoor stage at Artpark. The band played Pittsburgh last night leaving tonight as the best available date for them to play. Many will remember the band was to have played here last summer but the band shelved the tour due to a family illness.
See good things do come to those who wait. As the fog appeared the band took the stage and surprisingly opened with one of their signature songs in “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”. I suppose they just wanted to get it out of the way one nearby fan stated.
From there you would think to be heading for a letdown but the Beatle-esque “Secret World” with coincidentally a snippet of McCartney’s “Let Em In” tossed in for good measure, kept the audience’s attention. The band also mixed in “Change” and “Mad World” from their debut The Hurting, but it was the striking lesser known “Memories Fade” that seemed to be the standout.
Guitarist Roland Orzabal and bassist Curt Smith both took turns singing their songs giving the set list a varied flavoring. Joining them were drummer Jamie Wollum, keyboardist CJ Vanston and guitarist Charlton Pettus. Rounding out the band was background vocalist Carina Round who also doubled as the opening act. Round also has a solo career and has worked with Tool singer Maynard James Keenan in his side project Puscifer.
The band ended their main set with “Head Over Heels” a top 3 megahit before coming back for the expected encore of “Shout” that other number one smash of theirs.
The band did not disappoint. They rarely play this region, having last played the old Lockport concert series back in 2010. That show is still talked about and looked back on quite fondly by many who attended. The same will probably be said of this show which had perfect weather, great atmosphere and another fantastic performance by the British band. Hopefully we will not have to wait another seven years for them to return.
Set List
Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Secret World
Sowing the Seeds of Love
Pale Shelter
Break It Down Again
Everybody Loves a Happy Ending
Change
Mad World
Memories Fade
Closest Thing to Heaven
Creep (Radiohead Cover)
Advice for the Young at Heart
Badman’s Song
Head Over Heels
Encore
Shout
