Culture Club was one of the key pop bands of the ’80s.  Their music and message found a lot of followers and fans.  The band was also ridiculed for its image and its controversial frontman.  Boy George was the man in question, and he took a lot of chances in projecting his image at the time, but three decades later, Boy George and the Culture Club have outlived their critics.  The band regroups every few years, makes an occasional record, and continues to attract crowds on both sides of the Atlantic.

The band still includes the original lineup, and as this album demonstrates, they're still able to deliver the goods as if it was 1983 all over again.  There was never any question in the musical ability of this group.  They can play and it shows, and at this point in their long career they are really having fun with the material.  Boy George is still as flamboyant as ever, and his voice has held up quite nicely, even if seeing him with serious facial hair takes some getting used to.  The group is joined by back-up singers and a horn section.  This combination really makes each song come alive, as a similar set-up was originally employed in the studio.

Culture Club was known for the hits, and the band gives the audience exactly what it wants as one hit follows another: “Karma Chameleon,” “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me,” “Miss Me Blind,” “Move Away,” “It's A Miracle,” and plenty of other more or less-known songs are here. It's a complete trip into the ’80s, and it feels great to get back!

This release is a combination of audio and video, so you can either listen to the concert or experience it live by watching the DVD. The whole package is very impressive and the booklet includes lots of live photos. Clearly, a serious effort went into this release—the first official live album from the Culture Club—and it shows.

Rating: B+

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