- Platinum Blonde, Red Robinson Show Theatre, March 10.
JUST before 8 p.m., what seemed like a full house shuffled into the Red Robinson Show Theatre to see the greatest band that ever lived.
Maybe it wasn't the greatest band that ever lived, but you wouldn't know it from the level of excitement that infected the audience before the show. Friend groups (mostly 40 and older) met with shouts and hugs, chatted loudly and quickly, and posed for photos in front of the stage. The atmosphere had an air of high-school reunion giddiness and reflection. Reflection set in soon as it became apparent that a lot of time has passed since Platinum Blonde's early 1980s heyday. Still, the atmosphere remained upbeat.
In rebel rock-'n'-roll fashion, the band took to the stage without much flourish a little late. Original lead singer Mark Holmes launched into the first number without a word to the audience, and got through at least four or five songs before stopping to acknowledge them. For some reason, Holmes kept leaving the stage and ducking into the wings during the first set almost every time there was a break in singing. It was a noticeable and distracting tick that was hopefully due to a bout of the flu or something similar. While the first half of the concert seemed to lack energy, the band picked it up in the final half, and belted out their classic new wave hits with force.
Although it couldn't be labelled Platinum Blonde's best show, it is worth mentioning that Holmes sounded great despite whatever it was that was making him leave the stage regularly in the beginning. The same can't be said for the sound level at the theatre that was so loud there was feedback for some of the first part of the show.
It's a good thing Holmes' distinctive voice still sounds so good because the group announced it is releasing another album soon and plans to tour in the summer. During the epic drum solo in the classic hit "Doesn't Really Matter," Holmes shouted: "We are Platinum Blonde and we are back!" And that might not be a bad thing.
