TFF SLC
Tears For Fears at Red Butte Garden Amphitheater – September 20, 2016

Back in late May, I posted about Tears For Fears having to postpone a series of US dates due to family illness. I was very bummed out.

Almost a month later, the band posted a new series of rescheduled dates, including Salt Lake City for September 20th. Excitement back on.

As the weather gets closer to the end of summer here in Utah, it tends to cool off rather fast. But we got lucky with several days where the temps were still in the mid 80’s. Which made for an outdoor concert with Tears For Fears closest things to heaven [see what I did ther?]

Set List

  • Everybody Wants to Rule the World
  • Secret World
  • Sowing the Seeds of Love
  • Pale Shelter
  • Break It Down Again
  • Everybody Loves a Happy Ending
  • Change
  • Mad World
  • Memories Fade
  • Closest Thing to Heaven
  • Billie Jean (Michael Jackson cover)
  • Advice for the Young at Heart
  • Badman’s Song
  • Head Over Heels
  • Encore:

  • Shout

The Band Played On

TFF SLC
Roland and Curt – front and center

With the above setlist clocking in at just over 90 minutes, the band covered pretty much all of their musical creations. The last time I saw the band was in 1996, and it was just Roland. I had previously seen Just Roland in 1993. And the last time I saw them live with Curt was in 1990, during the Seeds of Love tour. I didn’t have a digital camera for those previous dates, which tells you how long ago it was since I’d seen TFF live. This was the first time I got to see Curt perform “Break It Down Again”, which believe it or not, was one of the songs I was anticipating hearing. And he did not disappoint.

TFF SLC
“Badman’s Song” – epic and long

Taking the place of Oleta Admas on various songs was Michael Wainwright. His range captured the magic on “Badman’s Song” as well as on “Sowing The Seeds of Love” and many other songs. And Roland and Curt were so good. So very good. Roland’s vocals were as strong as I remember them from 20 years ago. And Curt never missed a beat on bass and on lead vocals with “Mad World” and “Advice for the Young at Heart” And of course, what would a live performance be without “Change” which has always been a favorite Curt song for me.

There were no new songs played. Perhaps they are not ready to perform them as the album is still a good 8-10 months away. But we did get a cover song. Roland on a very toned-down version of “Billie Jean” was very refreshing. Other dates and cities got a cover of Radiohead’s “Creep”, which means TFF still performs it live more often than Radiohead does.

TFF SLC
“Shout” – the encore song of the night.

By the time the encore happened, everyone in the sold out crowd had already been on their feet for the entire set. It was time to “Shout” along with the band as they closed out an incredible concert. I promise I won’t wait as long to see them live again.