It’s not easy to stand out when your lead singer is Jim Kerr.
And yet, that’s exactly what three members of Simple Minds managed to do when the Scottish rock band brought their “Alive & Kicking Tour 2025” to North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre on May 24.
To start, longtime lead guitarist Charlie Burchill lit up the stage with his blazing axe work on “New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)” and again on the luminous “See the Lights.”
Then backing vocalist Sarah Brown stole the spotlight with her powerhouse pipes, first on “Once Upon a Time” and later on the encore-saver “Book of Brilliant Things.”
But the real showstopper was drummer Cherisse Osei. After “Theme for Great Cities,” she delivered a blistering solo with such precision and visible joy that Kerr couldn’t help but exclaim, “That’s what we call grrl power!”
Still, the commanding and charismatic Kerr ruled this night of ‘80s nostalgia that also featured mini sets from British new wave bands Modern English and Soft Cell.
Modern English kicked off the show with a taut, six-song set, beginning with “Gathering Dust” from their 1981 debut, Mesh & Lace. Given the song is known for its spacey synths, it was surprising not to see a keyboardist on stage. By contrast, Soft Cell’s sole instrument was a synthesizer.
Setting up “Long in the Tooth,” from the band’s new album, 1 2 3 4, lead singer Robbie Grey encouraged concertgoers to buy it at the merch booth. Despite its title, the potent song stood up well next to Modern English’s early post-punk material.
By the time they hit “Someone’s Calling,” with Ric Chandler laying down sharp drum fills, Grey seemed displeased with the daylight crowd’s lukewarm energy, frequently soliciting more applause and pointing out those standing as if to reward them.
Following Gary McDowell’s intricate guitar solo on “Hands Across the Sea” and the rhythmic “Swans on Glass,” Grey said, “This is a song you might know.” The opening notes of “I Melt With You,” their beloved hit made immortal by 1983’s Valley Girl soundtrack, were enough for people to spring to their feet and sing along as the sun started setting.
Soft Cell followed with a 40-minute set that struggled to maintain momentum, largely due to Marc Almond’s uneven vocals and detached stage presence. He occasionally wandered toward the audience, but lacked the comfort of Grey or anything close to Kerr.
Limited to just Almond, co-founder/keyboardist Dave Ball, and two background singers, the band opened with 1981’s “Memorabilia,” which laced in a medley of Madonna hits: “Holiday,” “Into the Groove,” and “Like A Virgin.”
Almond’s distinctive voice, better suited for the studio or an intimate club, wavered on “Torch” and “Nostalgia Machine.” He fared better on the robotic “Monoculture,” and “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye” provided one of the stronger moments of their 10-song set.
The synth-pop duo wrapped up with the 12” single version of “Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go.” Hearing a medley (rather than both songs in full) and the surprising absence of “Sex Dwarf” likely left fans wanting more — a fitting metaphor for the set as a whole.
Simple Minds assumed the stage with the rollicking “Waterfront.” Kerr quickly established his presence as a polished showman, engaging the crowd with wry banter, and working both sides of the stage throughout the night. He even ventured into the pit during “Let There Be Love” to connect with fans while singing, “Your music talks to me and hits me tonight.”
After the third song, Kerr told the already energized amphitheater, “We’re just getting warmed up,” a phrase he’d repeat later in the nearly two-hour show.
“I think this is our first time in Chula Vista,” Kerr mused, putting a playful Spanglish spin on the city’s name. “We better be good because we don’t want it to be the last time. I know we’ve played San Diego before. It’s different, isn’t it?”
The singer’s voice has held up remarkably well; much better than most ‘80s relics. Holding the mic by the head and very close to his mouth, he sounded strong and clear, especially on “Someone Somewhere in Summertime” and “This Fear of Gods.” This is echoed on the group’s recently released live album, Alive and Kicking – Live in the City of Diamonds.
And Kerr’s limberness wasn’t limited to his vocals. The 65-year-old frontman frequently stretched, squatted, and struck yoga poses while singing. After one particularly deep backbend, he joked, “Don’t try that at home.”
The only glitch in the night came during “Promised You A Miracle,” when loud pops disrupted the mix. Kerr halted the song, checked with the sound crew, then asked the audience, “Should we do it again?” The crowd roared their approval, to which he replied, “One free ride!” as the band played it again from the top.
The main set ended with “All the Things She Said” and the enduring “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” from The Breakfast Club soundtrack. During the now-iconic “la-la-la-la” outro, Kerr had the audience sing it in five different languages. As all started to catch on that it was the same, he quipped, “Now you know it’s the best lyric I ever wrote.”
Simple Minds sent the standing throng home with “Alive and Kicking” followed by “Sanctify Yourself.” The powerful encore punctuated their performance supremacy while reaffirming their legacy as one of the bands that helped define a decade.
Donovan Roche is a longtime music writer and frequent contributor to Times of San Diego. Send your story ideas to droche617@gmail.com.
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