Fremont Theater · 1035 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
$44
Doors 7:00 PM / Show 8:00 PM, All Ages
When Soft Cell played a sold-out show in front of 20,000 adoring cellmates at London's O2 Arena in September 2018, the evening was intended to be a grand farewell. Billed as One Night: One Final Time, it was originally going to be a case of saying hello to wave one last goodbye. Instead, it became the launching pad for a thrilling third act of the band's glittering career.
The electronic duo – singer, showman and lyricist Marc Almond and electronics whizz and producer Dave Ball – had initially forged their creative bond in the art department of Leeds Polytechnic in 1977. They went on to achieve huge success in the 1980s, when they topped the UK singles chart with Tainted Love, sold over 21 million records, notched up one platinum album and two gold ones, and changed the course of pop by paving the way for a host of other synth-based acts, including Yazoo, Eurythmics, Tears for Fears, Pet Shop Boys and Erasure. They also brought something deliciously dark and distinctive to the table, being more than happy to flirt with danger and controversy, while regularly making decisions that made little or no commercial sense. With their songs covered by Marilyn Manson, David Gray and Nine Inch Nails, they also made music that has firmly stood the test of time. With personal and commercial pressures ultimately taking a toll, Marc and Dave began a 17-year hiatus in 1984, bringing Soft Cell's first chapter to an end, but they subsequently reunited for two years in the 2000s for live gigs and a new album, Cruelty Without Beauty, before again going their separate ways to resume successful solo careers.
That, to all intents and purposes, had been that… until that momentous night in 2018. The intention at The O2 had been to draw a final line under Marc and Dave's rollercoaster ride, but the reaction among fans proved so overwhelming that the big adieu turned into a new beginning. The rekindled onstage chemistry between Marc and Dave confirmed that there was still plenty of mileage left in their creative partnership, and the seven years since then have seen a re-energised band firing on all cylinders.
Soft Cell's triumphant third coming has manifested itself on three different fronts: in the studio; on the stage; and through an ongoing series of CD and vinyl reissues of their early albums, all of which are being remastered and expanded with bonus tracks to cement the band's position as one of the most important and influential acts of their generation.
A return to the studio began in the aftermath of the O2 concert, although the album that eventually emerged, *Happiness not included, was made in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic which meant that recording sessions had to be conducted remotely, a challenging state of affairs aggravated by Marc catching Covid-19 early in the process. But the record, released in May 2022 through a new deal with BMG, proved to be an auspicious addition to the Soft Cell catalogue, reiterating Marc and Dave's ability to take big themes and everyday emotions and wrap them up in brilliant pop songs. Produced by Dave, alongside Grammy-winning co-producer Phillip Larsen, the album combined electronic dance, melodic three-minute pop, and ballads that added a new, widescreen sophistication to the Soft Cell sound. With Marc's lyrics adopting a global perspective that took in vignettes from Britain, New York, Los Angeles and the former Soviet Union, it was a classic Soft Cell synthesis of sunshine and shadow – one that topped the dance albums chart, and also reached No.7 seven in the mainstream UK chart to give the band their first Top Ten release in 39 years.
Registration required. You must sign up online in advance and can't pay at the door.
Doors 7:00 PM / Show 8:00 PM, All Ages
When Soft Cell played a sold-out show in front of 20,000 adoring cellmates at London's O2 Arena in September 2018, the evening was intended to be a grand farewell. Billed as One Night: One Final Time, it was originally going to be a case of saying hello to wave one last goodbye. Instead, it became the launching pad for a thrilling third act of the band's glittering career.
The electronic duo – singer, showman and lyricist Marc Almond and electronics whizz and producer Dave Ball – had initially forged their creative bond in the art department of Leeds Polytechnic in 1977. They went on to achieve huge success in the 1980s, when they topped the UK singles chart with Tainted Love, sold over 21 million records, notched up one platinum album and two gold ones, and changed the course of pop by paving the way for a host of other synth-based acts, including Yazoo, Eurythmics, Tears for Fears, Pet Shop Boys and Erasure. They also brought something deliciously dark and distinctive to the table, being more than happy to flirt with danger and controversy, while regularly making decisions that made little or no commercial sense. With their songs covered by Marilyn Manson, David Gray and Nine Inch Nails, they also made music that has firmly stood the test of time. With personal and commercial pressures ultimately taking a toll, Marc and Dave began a 17-year hiatus in 1984, bringing Soft Cell's first chapter to an end, but they subsequently reunited for two years in the 2000s for live gigs and a new album, Cruelty Without Beauty, before again going their separate ways to resume successful solo careers.
That, to all intents and purposes, had been that… until that momentous night in 2018. The intention at The O2 had been to draw a final line under Marc and Dave's rollercoaster ride, but the reaction among fans proved so overwhelming that the big adieu turned into a new beginning. The rekindled onstage chemistry between Marc and Dave confirmed that there was still plenty of mileage left in their creative partnership, and the seven years since then have seen a re-energised band firing on all cylinders.
Soft Cell's triumphant third coming has manifested itself on three different fronts: in the studio; on the stage; and through an ongoing series of CD and vinyl reissues of their early albums, all of which are being remastered and expanded with bonus tracks to cement the band's position as one of the most important and influential acts of their generation.
A return to the studio began in the aftermath of the O2 concert, although the album that eventually emerged, *Happiness not included, was made in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic which meant that recording sessions had to be conducted remotely, a challenging state of affairs aggravated by Marc catching Covid-19 early in the process. But the record, released in May 2022 through a new deal with BMG, proved to be an auspicious addition to the Soft Cell catalogue, reiterating Marc and Dave's ability to take big themes and everyday emotions and wrap them up in brilliant pop songs. Produced by Dave, alongside Grammy-winning co-producer Phillip Larsen, the album combined electronic dance, melodic three-minute pop, and ballads that added a new, widescreen sophistication to the Soft Cell sound. With Marc's lyrics adopting a global perspective that took in vignettes from Britain, New York, Los Angeles and the former Soviet Union, it was a classic Soft Cell synthesis of sunshine and shadow – one that topped the dance albums chart, and also reached No.7 seven in the mainstream UK chart to give the band their first Top Ten release in 39 years.
