EMF, Go Go Sapiens Tour, Live at The Garage, January 21 2023

Pictures; Adrian Hextall / MindHex Media

Words and shenanigans; Giles Baxter ESQ BDC etc

Last time I saw this lot was back in the day at University of East Anglia supporting PWEI, or was it Carter? or was it Jesus Jones? or was it your Mum? Turns out back in the day was 30 years ago…or was it longer?

I probably can’t drink as much as I did back then [Editor’s comment – we did a poll and our survey said…. “Oh!” ] , I definitely don’t take any other evening enhancements, and my friends now have to have permission from their other halves to go out – but did I have as much fun – no not really, I had much much more!

And what a venue the Garage still is – perfectly formed, great sound, clever selection of drinks, great staff and lovely clean toilets – and not necessarily in that order!

Strange start though – when did support acts disappear? But no problem, DJ Dave played some massive tunes (aka songs) to set us up for a corker!

First song – I Believe – a banger, and what a treat to get us going. When I say us, I mean us old-un’s, hardly a youngster in sight….and then it was full on songs from the new album (are they still called that?) mixed up with more EMF classics than you thought they had – Children, Lies, I’m a Believer, …Unbelievable (you’d have to add any others here i don’t recognise!.

And what about the new songs, from the Go Go Sapian self released album, their first in 25(?) years? – well, pretty decent. The same alternative, dance, electronic dance music, indie, pop (thanks google) that kept us going all night. And a fantastic hardcore cover of London’s Calling, voted for by the fans (they do a new cover every show i think) and two encores that dropped, an even older tune than them, Just Can’t get Enough by Depeche Mode, Longtime, and my all time personal favourite; EMF (from us to you)…thanks.

James Atkin is a showman, friendly, enthusiastic, funny, cool and sometimes a little out of breath but clearly having the time of his life. And a great atmosphere on stage with the band – chatting, laughing, having fun and always including the audience..

I’d say the night was unbelievable but that would be too easy…

SETLIST

I Believe
Getting Through
Sister Sandinista
Lies
Equilibrium
Children
Long Summer Days
Unbelievable
London Calling (Clash Cover)
Sparks and Flashes
I’m a Believer (Neil Diamond cover)
Search and Destroy (Iggy and The Stooges cover)
Inside
Encore:
Longtime / Just Can’t Get Enough / EMF