on seeing yaz after 25 years
July 24, 2008
The Gods of my adolescence smiled on me often in July. Randomly, and often, I see Dave Gahan at the gym. Normal, short, faded tattoos. My idols are people.
And they delivered Yaz onto me. Twice. Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke. Their stage presence was one of slight discomfort. Not all slick and choreographed. Nothing like stage shows of the last 20 years. And yet the performances were brilliant. Why? A voice, stronger, deeper, and more in control rose above. She sang and we felt it in our bones. And hearts.
And his Erasure-ized interpretations of their small catalog made it all sound just a little more current, while honoring his beginnings in Depeche and also Moroder, Kraftwerk, and the Human League.
Yaz was no nostalgia act. They were finishing business they started 25 years ago. "Don't Walk Away From Love," a song I never really loved, was glorious live. Her camp reading of "In My Room" brought goosebumps to everyone. And, as expected, "Situation" built and built and built until the room, and Vince, and Alison, and the lights erupted in a giant bang. And then, like before, they were gone for good.
