The Pet Shop Boys are out on the road supporting their latest release their “Electric World Tour” and stopped in Oakland for two shows at the Fox Theater. The capacity crowd for Monday night’s show was clearly pumped despite the prospect of a Tuesday morning at work, raising a cheer as “Axis” pumped through the P.A. and video streamed across the sheer curtain that hung across the front of the stage, providing a hint of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe performing in what appeared to be dunce hats and jackets made of black soda straws.
After two songs, the curtain dropped and orange-robed stage hands whisked it away without Neil and Chris missing a beat. With the drape gone, the extent of the production was revealed; oodles of lights and giant horizontal blinds that served as a backdrop and screen for the video that continued throughout the set.
At it for 30 years … an impressive feat lasting longer than most marriages … the electronic pop duo pumped out the classics new and old, Neil roaming the stage while Chris held down the beats behind his keyboards. The audience, as eclectic in nature as you would expect of a Bay Area crowd, ranged from bedazzled ravers pumping along with the beats to 80’s new wave throw-backs and everything in between. Diversity aside, the positive vibes kept show fresh and alive … even after all these years.
Supporting act: DJ Jacques Lu Cont
Setlist:
- Axis
- One More Chance / A Face Like That
- Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)
- Fugitive
- Integral
- I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind of Thing
- Suburbia
- I’m Not Scared
- Fluorescent
- West End Girls
- Somewhere (Leonard Bernstein cover)
- Leaving
- Thursday
- Love Etc.
- I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)
- Rent
- Miracles
- It’s a Sin
- Domino Dancing
- Always on My Mind (Brenda Lee cover)
–Encore–
- Go West (Village People cover)
- Vocal / It’s Alright
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