Live Review: Nik Kershaw and Go West in Perth
Concert on 13 March 2024 at The Astor Theatre Perth Western Australia.
Review by Sheldon Ang
Photography by Sheldon Ang Photography
Wouldn’t it be good to be in their shoes – a wishful thinking indeed, considering their combined reign in the UK charts tracked for over 150 weeks through the 80s and overflowing into the 90s. 40 years on, the songs of Nik Kershaw and Go West are still regulars on mainstream radio across the globe, a testament to their seminal pieces in the test of time.
The night was unique, with both acts headlining in a double banger through a 3-song roster on repeat while sharing the same band instrumentalists. Nik Kershaw sparked the night with Come On Down, Wide Boy and When A Heart. The 66 year old bespectacled singer, considered as one of the best songwriters (said Elton John) still possessed the moves, occasionally scintillating through his guitar with knee bends and kicks, while propagating the lyrical story with his high pitched vocals.
Go West are Peter Cox and Richard Drummie. They transported fans with a dosage of energy boost, commencing their set with Don’t Look Down, Black and Gold and Eye to Eye. These tracks may not be commercial hits on radio airplay in Australia, but some of the audiences were engaging with their kareoke skills. While his scalp has been shining for some time, lead vocalist Cox was still flexing his stage repertoire as he shut his eyes and jerked his head, while punching the air like a rocker during the crescendo. Selling more than 20 million albums, the Go West duo resonated with the crowd like they did in their haydays, with fans reliving their childhood emotional reverie.
But the fans were at The Astor Theatre for the bangers, with the first household hit arriving in The Riddle. The track peaked within the Top 10 list in Australia. Just like the title itself, there had been much speculation to the meaning of the 40 year old track as Kershaw once stated that “In short, ‘The Riddle’ is nonsense, rubbish, bollocks, the confused ramblings of an 80s popstar.” That didn’t matter much to the audience as they all sang like the tracks of their lives. Twelve songs in, the first set was completed with the likes of Faithful by Go West – another banger from 1992, which sparked the crowd dancing and singing as they were declaring their vows at the church alter.
Following a 20-minute break – more bangers echoed in the second set through some of the 12 songs. It is the setlist that included the one song that we all know, whether we are fans or just curious, including We Close Our Eyes and Call Me. And so the nostalgic rain poured and poured in Wouldn’t It Be Good (to be in your shoes), weaved by NiK Kershaw. The song was played at Live Aid in 1985 at Wembley Stadium, and tonight the 1,000 or so fans were drenched into the seminal track 40 years later. For the dreamers, it’s the anthem of their lives, always wanting for a better outcome and comparing with the financial elite. The fans were immersed into a place and time when music connected with their souls, transcending into a dosage of the once upon a time era.
Several hours after dusk, I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down by Nik Kershaw drew the curtains, as the calypso intro sparked the groove once again. The catchy chorus was effectively simple, allowing everyone to join the revelry. The night ended with The King of Wishful Thinking. Peter Cox got the crowd going in a Capella, before the rhythm section kicked and sparking the first verse,once again ringing the school bell as everyone board onto the midnight express to the days of childhood sweethearts and Pretty Woman. It was a soundtrack of our generation. Nik Kershaw shared the stage for one last time, afterall, tonight was a double header with no individual egos.
The night of primary and high school reunions, the class of the 80’s and early 90’s merged for a nostalgic recollection – and we’re grateful to relive those moments.
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Estellar PR, Destroy All Lines, Nik Kershaw and Go West for the media accreditation.
About the Writer/Photographer: Perth based Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have been accredited to cover over 80 of the hottest acts including Taylor Swift (ERAS Tour in Sydney), Coldplay, KISS, P!NK, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blink 182 and Lizzo with reviews shared by the likes of UB40, Delta Goodrem and Toni Childs on social media. He has interviewed rockers Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS) plus over 40 artists.
