Page 65 - ION Indie Magazine MarchApril 2019

On Tuesday, January 22, 2019, electro synth-pop gods Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (AKA
OMD) performed to a nearly sold-out audience at the Rialto Theater in Tucson. It was such a
treat for me to witness this spectacle show that I couldn’t be more excited, thanks to my friend
Mark Martinez at the Rialto Theater. One of the best things about seeing a band that I have
loved for over 30 years is all the memories I had with these songs.

OMD took the stage at around 9:15 p.m. The atmosphere with the audience was a bit cold.
Kinda like between a church and a library at closing time, with minimal concert enthusiasm.
Then it really became quiet when 4 men came up to the front of the stage, side by side, holding
what looked like International Maritime signal flags. Then I realized that this was OMD 33 years
later. The background music started playing “ABC Auto Industry.” The men began signaling their
flags and the crowd finally exploded into joyous applause! After a few songs, I noticed that this
was the original 1985-89 classic band lineup. With Andy McCluskey on lead vocals and bass,
Paul Humphreys on synthesizer/keyboards and vocals, along with Martin Cooper on
keyboardist/saxophonist, and Stuart Kershaw on drums; McCluskey and Humphreys being the
original founders back in 1978.