Went to a Psychedelic Furs show last night.......

[XNASA]

At the Zoo! I'm not kidding. The Furs played at the Lincoln Park Zoo last night, on a stage set up on the South Lawn between the Lion House and the Flamingo Pond. I'd estimate the crowd at around 2500-3000. We took our teenaged sons, who as it turned out, really dug the show.

Three original members, the Brothers Butler and guitarist John Asheton were augmented by a woman playing keyboards and a shaven-headed drummer. (Why are drummers all bald nowadays, anyway?)

Richard Butler only said one word to the crowd all night. After opening with "Love My Way" he said, "Hello!" Actually he was quite animated throughout the rest of the show, dancing around and shaking hands with everyone up near the stage.

My only complaints: Richard Butler really, really gave lax performances during the radio hits like "Pretty in Pink" and "Love My Way". You could tell he was just going through the motions. And, alas, no saxophonist. I mean, how can the Furs play without a sax player. It just didn't seem right.

Highlights: Butler marching around giving a faux nazi salute while singing "President Gas"........"stand up, we'll put you on your feet again.....open up your eyes just see if you're asleep again.....President Gas is up for President....." John Asheton's hynotronic guitar work was stellar. And they saved the best for last, in my opinion, encoring with "Dumb Waiters" and "India", my two favorite Furs songs.

All in all, a great show on a gorgeous night.

[lefty_mcduff]

1. Jealous!

The Furs rock - loved 'em in the 80s - saw them a couple of times. Great shows.

Lucky you!

My teenage kids dig the 80s stuff too - took them to see The Cure and Duran Duran. Dug 'em both.

[XNASA]

2. I guess if one would like to see and hear actual musicians....

performing songs...you have to see older acts.

These days, everything is lip-sync'd and pre-programmed, etc. And if you want to hear an actual guitar lead.....forget it.

[GOPisEvil]

3. Wow! I'm glad the Furs are still around!

[RetroLounge]

4. Glad to see the Furs still rocking out

I saw them at the Vic, I think, in Chicago in the 80's. or Maybe it was the Park West.

Either way, they were great, and had a great sax player with them. Mars WIlliams, I believe his name was, from Chicago area.

RL

[mitchum]

5. Does Butler still have that languid, dissipated British actor thing going?

One of the coolest frontmen ever

[XNASA]

9. He looked kinda happy actually.

Smiling and dancing and making lots of hand jestures.

Occasionally he would set the mic stand so that the mic was only about 3 feet from the stage and sing while kneeling. But he spent a lot of time with his arm around his brother and was quite animated.

I saw them the first time they came over and you're right. He was quite a cool character.

[Maestro]

6. Wow that brings back memories

They were one of my fav bands in the eighties and on into the early nineties. That says a lot since I am usually a metal head!

[MissMillie]

7. Did "The Ghost in You" enjoy it? (n/t)

.

[johnnie]

8. That sounds very cool

I love outdoor shows too. I never have had the chance to see the Furs, but I hear the shows are pretty good. A guy I used to jam with is a huge fan of theirs and goes whenever they show up or when Butler comes around. Maybe next time I will take him up on his offer to go to a show. I have to say that Richard Butler's "Love Spit Love" is on my all-time favorite record list.