Live Review and Photos by: JACOB GAITAN
With their successful North American tour last summer, 80’s new wave group Tears For Fears returned last month for a brief seven concert performance across California. Founders Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith began their 18-song set list at the Wiltern with “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”. Smith’s melody driven vocals had the audience chanting along to the chorus while others clapped in unison and danced wildly across the pit. The addicting energy radiated by the band consumed the crowd for nearly two hours and provided a nostalgic setting from start to finish.
The Los Angeles show also included a special highlight from drummer Jamie Wollam. A year ago at the same venue, Wollam made his debut with the band and has since become a consistent member while touring across the world. Orzabal and Smith’s crowd interactions revealed their comical personalities, often sharing jokes on stage with the audience. Orzabal asked the audience if they loved Tears For Fears, resulting in a thunderous response, yet he jokingly continued by saying “”If you really loved us, you would find out where we live and stand outside our houses. Stalkers have diminished since the 80s.” Smith shared that Los Angeles has become somewhat of a home crowd show since relocating to Southern California, and expressed how glad he was to be home. He reminisced with Orzabal about their first Los Angeles performance at the Palladium in 1985, and said playing the Orange County Fair that same year remains vividly in his mind.
Half way through the night, the momentum shifted as they performed “Mad World”. The ballad song continued with “Memories Fade” and “Closest Thing To Heaven”. Fans gently swayed side to side as others decorated the venue with flickering lighters in the air. The opening keys from “Head Over Heels” received the loudest ovation of the night as everyone sang along to the popular hit. Their two-song encore finished with “Woman In Chains” and “Shout”. After three decades of existence, Tears For Fears continue to entertain fans and sell out venues everywhere. Their colorful performances and tear jerker songs provide a fun filled environment for everyone. They will conclude their South America tour in mid October after performing six dates in Brazil.
Everybody Wants to Rule the World Secret World
Sowing the Seeds of Love
Change
Call Me Mellow
Everybody Loves a Happy Ending
Mad World
Memories Fade
Closest Thing to Heaven
Falling Down
Advice for the Young at Heart
Floating Down the River
Badman’s Song
Pale Shelter
Break It Down Again
Head Over Heels
Encore:
Woman In Chains
Shout
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