Bananarama | Astor Theatre | Friday 19 Feb | ★ ★ ★  

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Wang Chung did a great job warming up the crowd for Bananarama’s Friday night show at The Astor Theatre. Kicking off their set with ‘Let’s Go’ that friendly duo gave the crowd permission to acknowledge that we’re all quite a bit older, but here was a moment to travel back to the ’80s and party like it was 1989.

Wang Chung member Jack Hues wasn’t able to make the tour so joining Nick Feldman was Cutting Crew’s Gareth Moulton. The duo played a few Wang Chung album tracks and also added Cutting Crew’s ‘I just Died in Your Arms Tonight’ into the set, before getting the party started with ‘Dance Hall Days’ and ‘Everybody Have Fun Tonight’. The latter was the perfect command for what lay ahead.

It’s a pity that Perth punter’s didn’t get the other band that was on the east coast leg of this tour, hearing the music of The Chantoozies would have been a welcome addition to the show, but they were left off the Perth date.

Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin took to the stage, welcomed by a crowd that included many who had dressed in their best early ’80s gear.

The famous trio have been a duo for the larger part of their career. In 1988 Siobhan Fahey left the band at the height of their fame to form Shakespear’s Sister, and replacement Jacqui O’Sullivan lasted just three years.

After opening the show with one of their earliest hits ‘Cruel Summer’, Woodward joked that the band had only been to Perth once before and had vowed not to come back.

‘Nathan Jones’, which is an old Supreme’s tune, off the bands mega-selling ‘WOW’ album came next with a re-enactment of the choreography from the video. The singer chatted to fans in the front row noting that they knew the moves better than the band themselves. Woodward also shared her amazement that a fan was wearing their 1989 tour t-shirt.

The show was all about the hits, and Bananarama have more than enough to choose from. ‘Shy Boy’ and ‘Robert De Niro’s Waiting’ saw the crowd singing along to every word. ‘I Head a Rumour’ was given a mash up treatment combined with elements of Gloria Gaynor’s disco classic ‘I Will Survive’.

The band headed back to one of their first releases with ‘He Was Really Saying Something’ before launching into ‘I Want you Back’ and the Beatles ‘Help’.

The band invited some fans on stage to dance with them for their biggest hit ‘Venus’.

“We’ve been told we’re only allowed eight people” Woodward decreed, before double the number made it up onto the stage. The excited fans joining the girls to sing rounds of “I’m your Venus” while showcasing the video’s memorable dance moves. Something these dedicated fans must have done hundreds of times in their lounge rooms.

The band finished off the show with ‘Love in the First Degree’ before appropriately signing off with ‘Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)’.

Soon they were back for an encore, a mash up of the Bee Gee’s ‘You Should Be Dancing’ and their own ‘I Want You Back’.

This was a show that was heavily focused on nostalgia, the band played strictly just the biggest hits. All the songs played were from their first four albums, everything was released before 1988. Their other six albums of material were ignored, which was a little disappointing as clearly this was a room filled with dedicated fans.

Back when they had multiple tunes in the charts the band rarely played live, but now Bananarama, live many from their era, is making the most of the retro love for all things ’80s.

At the same time, it’s a testament to how successful Bananarama was that many hits from their heyday didn’t even make it into the set list. Since they first began in 1981 the band has released over 40 singles.

Bananarama’s mission statement has always been to have a great time, they’ve never been about great voices or perfect choreography. They’ve never taken themselves too seriously, they’ve always been up for a good time, and that’s exactly what they delivered.

Graeme Watson

Update 22nd February 2016 16:35: This review was updated to correct the information about Jack Moulton from Cutting Crew appearing.