Robert Sharples went to see Boy George at Leeds City Varieties …
So Boy George is back with his new album ‘This is what I do’. I went to see him and his band at the City Varieties Leeds. I didn’t know what to wear, or what I should listen to; I was confused and immediately asked questions. Is it standing? Hasn’t he lost weight?! Do I have to wear a hat?
A good start is the new album, which I figure to be a collection of noticeable music genres each stamped and flavoured by the Artist Boy George. A nice and slow and easy to listen sound, his developed, husky voice is relaxed and you can see this in his relationship with the band during the live performance. The new single ‘King of Everything’ hits a note with an older crowd and feels like a reflection on his career. As an Artist he clearly has put a lot of himself into this, and he carries that into the music well. Classic Boy George I guess. It certainly comes through in Live your Life and Love & Danger and he’s got the more powerful tracks in there such as Any Road, that sings wise words. If this is less important, you can sink back to Play Me or shake it with Bigger than Me.
On a broader note, I do think it must be difficult to produce a serious album without the question of his public image interfering somehow. Will he be down with the kids is probably a thought too. You can see he was comfortable with the music but nervous about his his past, and highlights from his striking career may overshadow this. He nailed a softer Karma Chameleon and Do you really want to hurt me, where the venue accommodated this quite special, what he called, open dress rehearsal. He was playing with the set list, arrangements, and it was refreshing to see this.
Boy George is cool. Not a word I throw about and I never thought I would say that but he really is. He’s open and writes from the heart. I think it’s when you see him perform, he can really move and sync with the audience. I’m not sure how much he’s pushing himself as an Artist, but it definitely seems like he’s got his stuff together and created a tight, interesting enjoyable album for him and us both.