Pioneers of the British electronic music scene, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, will be the first band to play at the new Eric’s club on Mathew Street, on Saturday 10th September 2011. Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys will play a rare intimate two man show. The historic home-town show will be invite only and 10 lucky Liverpool Echo readers will be in with a chance to attend the exclusive gig at the legendary Liverpool club. We will also be running a competition to win a limited number of tickets – to be announced shortly.
"If Eric’s had not existed then neither would OMD! Even though you cannot recreate what Eric’s meant to our generation over 30 years ago, it will be fun to play on the same stage again remembering the past whilst hopefully celebrating a new and different future." said singer Andy McCluskey.
“It’s quite fitting that OMD, who played their first ever gig at Eric’s over 30 years should come back to re-open the new Eric’s. We’re over the moon to welcome such an iconic band back to the venue but we’re also looking forward to showcasing the next wave of new talent over the forthcoming months at club” said Ethan Allen Musical Director of Eric’s.
Liverpool’s music scene in the late 1970’s was an exciting and dynamic place to be. Everyone was either in a band, in-between bands or were forming a band. In the midst of all this activity was Eric’s Club – a small discreet venue that was a favoured haunt for the people who would later form bands such as The Teardrop Explodes, Echo & The Bunnymen and Frankie Goes To Hollywood. So it was quite apt that Eric’s was the venue of choice for the debut performance of Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark in October 1978.
From the beginning Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey launched their own unique style of electronic melodies and thoughtful lyrics that helped form OMD’s reputation for intelligent pop. OMD have managed to occupy that rare space between the alternative and the commercial, writing songs about such diverse subjects as airplanes, oil refineries, religious icons and movie stars. These songs capture perfectly the balance between energy and emotion; a pop melancholia that echoed around the walls of Eric’s Club over thirty years ago and that still sounds fresh and exciting today. Their latest studio album History of Modern was released in 2010.
Supporting OMD are Liverpool band, Kids on Bridges, who promise to bring their own blend of Dirty Filthy Electro Pop to the masses. “Kids on Bridges wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for bands such as OMD. To play with a band that has crossed generations and pioneered electro and is still as relevant in today’s electronic generation is a great honour. To play with them at Eric’s where it all began is a dream and it’s why you get into playing music” said Kids on Bridges frontman Christian Bragg.
After 31 years the music venue Eric’s will re-open its doors to the public in October 2011, listings will be announced over coming weeks.