New to the “Jim Kerr Theatrical Ensemble” is new keyboardist Erik Ljunggren. Officially announced on SMHQ social media last week, after much churning of the rumour mill about Berenice Scott and the “is she out, is she still in” conjecture amongst the fanbase. There really is a small cognoscenti that always seems to be privy to knowing such information and that in turn churns the rumour mill ad infinitum. Wouldn’t it be much better to just be up front about this stuff from the get-go with ALL fans? Some of the cognoscenti seem to say they were aware all along that Berenice was only temporary – but it was more like, perhaps, they are all too used to the way the rotation of band “membership” plays out these days? In any case, at least when the tour does finally make it back to the Americas, the North American contingent that saw the band perform in 2018 will enjoy a complete band this time with a dedicated keyboard player.
All that aside, welcome aboard Erik. Let’s hope your time with Simple Minds no matter how long or short it may be is a good one. I, for one, look forward to seeing you perform in Glasgow at the Hydro on Good Friday, 29 March.
Unfortunately Kerr decided to destroy the band many years ago…. Too many changes so I can call them Simple Minds Duo 😐🤬
SannyFy 😀 So many better cuts from OUAT as well but if it’s sentimental then it’s going to stay in I guess, along with the horrid octave shift at the mixing desk which makes it sound even worse.
I shouldn’t feel like I bought the Hydro tickets out of fan obligation rather than excitement but I’m just not excited by the set list.
Let’s hope they are really warmed up by March.
I know how you feel about the tickets – re: fan obligation rather than excitement of the gig itself. I used to count the days to gigs. Have a countdown on the blog and all that stuff. These days, my heart just isn’t in it. It makes me feel desperately sad that this is the case. Also, only going to a single SM gig would have been UNTHINKABLE to me even a year or 18 months ago. Now I am just resigned to it. Life goes on…
She’s a big loss – only keyboard player since Mick that I know of that could play the Herbie Hancock solo on Hunter & The Hunter properly. On a keytar, no less.
I listened to Glittering Prize on utube live from the NZ concert and it sounded a bit flat being kind. Outdoor recording so could be that. I hope they warm up before the Hydro and shake up the track listing – my heart sank when I saw Sanctify Yourself as the final song in the first set list.
Yeah. I think I’m just starting to get a bit tired of the constant rotation of people to be honest. I understand this…’excuse’ Jim and Charlie come up with for the revolving door policy. It keeps things fresh and energised for them, ya-da, ya-da. But on the flip side, it just feels like they use people until they’ve sucked them dry or get bored of them and feel they have nothing more to offer them. I’m not sure of the exact circumstances surrounding Berenice’s departure and she could have only signed up to be with the band for a short while, as I know she works closely with Heaven 17 and Glenn Gregory in particular.
It’s early days for Erik, and he needs to find his feet. By all accounts he was good with A-ha, so I have my hopes for him. The set list was quite different the following day in Hamilton compared to Taupo. They brought in I Travel, Big Sleep, New Gold Dream – Cherisse did a drum solo – Let There Be Love. These songs replaced Book Of Brilliant Things, Vision Thing (which meant that only ONE SONG was performed from their most recent album? And they don’t want to be a heritage band…? Hmmm okay!), King Is White and See The Lights. The set was cut short by the organisers due to a thunderstorm. So the crowd was spared ‘SannyFy’ in Hamilton. Sadly, it’s place at the end of the set is assured because it’s Jim’s partner’s favourite SM song. He ain’t ever gonna get rid of it. His Missus loves it too much. I could see her singing along to it up in the box at the London Palladium when the Acoustic Tour happened in 2017. It’s here to stay until ‘Jack and Victor’ go off into the mist together.