Forget Britney, it was Thomas Dolby who made the headset mic chic. Back in the early 1980s the electronica synth pioneer first came to prominence with all the poise of an airline pilot and a crazy wanderlust look in his eye. In Islington tonight he’s standing at his keyboards when he should’ve been on a plane back to the States. By very popular demand, he’s here at the O2 Academy doing an unexpected extra London date. A hometown gig.
Over forty years since his first release, he strides to his console, looking incredibly youthful and bright. Did the celebrity professor Magnus Pike share the secret of eternal youth and give Thomas the recipe for the elixir of life during the filming of She Blinded Me With Science music video? I reckon
As perhaps to be expected, there are plenty here who look like they were scoffing their Findus crispy pancakes and watching Dolby on Top Of The Pops back in the day. Their ZX Spectrums have long since become toxic waste, whilst Thomas has continued to carve out a considerably eclectic career.
Dolby goes through an absorbing retrospective of his long career but begins with a curveball and a curious cover of Blue Monday. Beside his desk, Dolby is concentrating intently. He could pass for a young hip DJ right now rather than the pensioner veteran he actually is. The big screen behind him complements his music perfectly. Evil Twin Brother flickers on, followed by the still familiar and very infectious Europa and The Pirate Twins from the 1984 career defining album The Flat Earth. Jacket off and now relaxing into the gig in an unbuttoned red shirt and t-shirt, Thomas gets the crowd joining him with the “Europa!” refrain, and there’s much mass handclapping. He even leaves the comfort of his console to play the harmonica.
Dolby is a bit of a dude. Chilled and charming as he makes his occasional forays to the edge of the stage with his laptop. Looking every bit like he’s delivering a Ted Talk – which is about right since Dolby was once the musical director for the Ted Conferences. The evening is punctuated with moments of unexpected delights. One Of Our Submarines smoothly transforms into Cars and then into Love Song as Dolby adeptly acknowledges Numan and The Cure. Nice semaphore moves at the end too!
Thomas Dolby has had such a varied career in music. As well as his critically acclaimed back catalogue he played keyboards on soft rock classics by Foreigner and produced one of the most outstanding albums of the 1980s – Steve McQueen by Prefab Sprout. One of his own favourite moments, though, is when he accompanied David Bowie on stage at Live Aid in 1985. Dolby relives that moment with a beautiful video and, via Islington, he joins Bowie doing Heroes at Wembley Stadium. It’s a stunning moment. A beautiful diversion that even succeeds in stopping the flow of portly punters who have been constantly queueing at the bars. Even the bar staff stop to admire the moving montage. A fitting finale before the inevitable encore.
The suave synth fella returns for four more songs, including the funked up mischief of Hot Sauce. I’m still waiting for my fave tracks but Thomas dutifully delivers! For many years my party-piece has been my knack for reciting the lyrics to Hyperactive! When karaoke catches up just watch me go! No really. As I mouth the words to the frenzied track, Thomas revisits the psychiatrist scene, and everyone in Islington is happy to be on the couch. Dolby even does a little twerk to the crowd at the end. Sixty five? Yeah right! She Blinded Me With Science follows with the once ubiquitous television scientist Magnus Pike appearing on screen but within a revamped video celebrating science.
Thomas Dolby felt refreshing and innovative back in the early 1980s, and he’s still quite the genius. It seemed to take the UK a while to catch up with the US in recognising his talent- Synth grooves, funky keyboards, and his distinguished demeanour – Thomas Dolby is the transatlantic hero.
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