Boy George & Culture Club, Berlin and Howard Jones – PNC Bank Arts Center – Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Review & Photos by Lori Schneider (IG: @LoriSchneiderPhotography)
80s nostalgia took the stage at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ with performances by icons of the 80s Boy George and Culture Club, Berlin and Howard Jones for The Letting It Go Show tour. What a great night of music for the generation-spanning crowd.
The show opened on this very hot and humid night with British synth-pop pioneer, Howard Jones, who delivered a performance that took the crowd on a nostalgic journey through the 80s and beyond. Jones kicked off the show with “Like To Get To Know You Well” and it became evident that he had lost none of his onstage charisma over the years.
Performing a 9-song set, highlights of the night included classics “What Is Love”, “New Song”, “No One Is To Blame” and ending with “Things Can Only Get Better”.Howard Jones can be found online at
www.howardjones.com and on Instagram @thehowardjones.
Berlin took the stage next with their blend of new wave and synth-pop. Lead vocalist Terri Nunn’s voice was as captivating as ever, effortlessly hitting the high notes with a charismatic stage presence.
Performing a 9-song set opening with “Masquerade”, then “No More Words”, the sounds of the 80s continued throughout the night with “The Metro”, “Animal” and chart topping “Take My Breath Away” from the 1986 film Top Gun. The show ended with “Sex (I’m a …)” leaving the crowd on a high note and solidifying the fact that Berlin’s music is timeless and still had the power to captivate and entertain.
Berlin can be found online at www.berlinpage.com and on Instagram @berlinofficialband. The crowd erupted into cheers when Boy George and Culture Club finally took the stage ready for the journey back to their music of the 80s. Boy George made a grand entrance with a curtain drop waiting at the top of a staircase descending with his charisma and charm.
From the first note of “Next Thing Will Be Amazing”, it was evident he still had the magic after all the passing years. Performing a 13-song set with 3-song encore, Culture Club’s classic hits “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya”, “Karma Chameleon”, “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” and “Time (Clock of the Heart)”, resonated with the audience who sang along and transported back in time.
The seamless integration of reggae, pop and new wave elements showcased the versatility and uniqueness of their sound. Each band member including Roy Hay on guitar, Mikey Craig on bass and the entire ensemble made the performance feel like a true celebration of their musical legacy. Fans of all ages, from longtime followers to younger generations, were united by the band’s music, singing, dancing and clapping showing a shared love for the music.
Boy George and Culture Club can be found online at www.boygeorgeandcultureclub.net and on
Instagram@boygeorgeofficial and @cultureclubofficial.
