China Crisis from left Eddie Lundon and Gary Daly during their concert at the Eastwood Open Mall last January 21, 2011. Eddie does the ‘x’ motion urging audiences to dance… No one but people from the eighties would understand. Photo by Jude Bautista

Written and photographed

By Jude Bautista

The rain poured down causing heavy traffic and yet people still made their way to Eastwood mall in Libis last Friday January 21. The reason: two English gentlemen more popularly known as the 80’s band China Crisis. The crowds were even bigger the following night at the Venice in Piazza (at McKinley Hill) for their second gig. Every single person who braved the rains and crowds came away feeling relaxed, light and easy as their music.  Some concert goers also cooled their heels at the new Richmonde Hotel and let the traffic subside.

Gary Daly snaps pics of the crowd. Photo by Jude Bautista

Organizers Steve O’Neal productions have also announced upcoming Fra Lippo Lippi concerts. The schedule will start from February 10 (Ormoc Astordome), February 11 (Tacloban Coliseum), Feb 12 (Uiversity of Baguio), Feb 13 (Hyatt Hotel Ballroom) and Feb 14 (NBC Tent at the Fort).

A fan shoots a video of his idols w his cell phone

China Crisis is part of that new wave era from the 1980’s. I expounded on this genre in an earlier blog entitled: ‘Tears for Fears: Beyond Nostalgia.’ That particular concert was one of the reasons I put up this blog.  Reading it would be a great backgrounder for this band too although they are a lot less rock and lighter than Tears for Fears. Even though it’s a wide range of styles and sounds, what marks that genre is experimentation and fusion. That may be one of the reasons why New Wave now has captured a younger audience too. Almost as many as the mid 30’s crowd, there were also a lot of 20-somethings and even teenagers.

80’s Retro band Popseeds was the front act for China Crisis at the Eastwood Open Mall last January 21, 2011. Members from left: Ace Del Mundo and JM Del Mundo. Photo by Jude Bautista

Another evidence of the resurgence of New Wave is the popularity of a very young band called the Popseeds who was the front act for China Crisis.  Popseeds gave a very good version of Wire Train’s ‘Chamber of Hellos’, The Church’s ‘Unguarded Moments’, Red Rocker’s ‘China.’ They also performed an original track called, ‘Set Free’ which will be included in their upcoming EP. Camera Walls is another young local band that is new wave influenced.

Gary peeks out from the folding fan from a…fan. Photo by Jude Bautista

Both vocalist Gary Daly and guitarist Eddie Lundon now have salt and pepper hair. Their smiles and enthusiasm however, have never missed a beat. Gary easily gains rapport with audiences using friendly banter, “We flew all the way from Liverpool. Thank you for hanging about in the rain, it reminds me of England.” Liverpool is also the home town of the greatest rock band in history “The Beatles”. He was still so uncomfortable with the heat and humidity that he begged for a fan. A lady in the audience handed him a folding fan. He was so pleased that he covered his face with it and slowly peeked out.

China Crisis’ guitarist Eddie Lundon in their concert at the Eastwood Open Mall last January 21, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

China Crisis may have also distinguished themselves by having the longest debut album title in history: ‘Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It’s Fun to Entertain.’ They started the show with a track from that album ‘Seven Sports for All’. The crowd enthusiastically applauded ‘Highest High’ and ‘Best Kept Secret’ that followed. What took everyone by surprise was when Gary asked ,“Who likes 70’s music? This is unrehearsed.” Gary sang ‘Shalalala’ the difficult intro and high notes to Minnie Ripperton’s “Loving You” and fans went wild. Filipinos in particular are affected by ballads that’s why this one was much appreciated.

DJ John Tupas warmed up the crowd with eighties hits before China Crisis took the stage at the Eastwood Open Mall last January 21, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Gary was surprised with how audiences were singing along to their lesser known songs such as “Strength of Character”, “Tragedy and Mystery” and “Fire and Steel.” Energy rose as they sang their faster songs which were also their biggest hits, “ King of the Catholic Style”, “Wishful Thinking” and “African and White”. Eddie Lundon was making the ‘X’ dance with his hands and urging people to do it (and laughing at the same time). The crowd could not get enough and asked for an encore and they got “Christian.”

Music maven Twinky Lagdameo was first in line to have her CDs and poster signed by the duo. Lagdameo accompanied the young and pretty Quezon City vice Mayor Joy Belmonte-Alimurung. Twinky’s current designation is COO of 7101Music Nation.

From right: China Crisis’ guitarist Eddie Lundon, QC Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte-Alimurung, (standing) vocalist Gary Daly, and (seated) 7101Music Nation COO Twinky Lagdameo. Pic was taken after China Crisis concert at the Eastwood Open Mall last January 21, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista