Life and Pieces

WRITING🖊 BASS🎸 CYCLING🚲 FCSP ☠️ COFFEE☕️ MUSIC🎧 ART🎨 WALKING🚶‍♂️

[palmeryyz]

July 2, 2026 goes down as a remarkable date in my musical life - my first (and hopefully not last) time seeing The Human League.

What’s awesome is the Niagara Falls, Ontario concert for the Sheffield, England band comes more than 45 years after the release of the seminal Dare album.

Dare not only changed the trajectory for the band, but also for synth pop as a whole and the legion of new fans the album fostered.

I became one of those fans, listened to vinyl and cassette copies of Dare, and explored previous creations before The Human League splintered into two groups, the other being equally lovely Heaven 17.

I am 45 years older than the 14-year-old teenager who cherished Dare, who added it to my collection along with Soft Cell’s Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret and Yazoo’s Upstairs at Eric’s later in 1982.

To have elements from all three bands play together this year on the Generations tour was an electric dream, if you will.

Alison Moyet played sans Vince Clarke, and Marc Almond sadly took the stage without the late, great Dave Ball, but all other pieces were in place and shimmered with energy and artistry.

The sets, the songs, the visuals all stunned and satiated the sold out crowd, and left me awestruck.

I now have three memories of perfect concert experiences - a Spoons/Blue Peter/Platinum Blonde concert; an Audioslave concert with equal portions of Rage Against the Machine and Soundgarden songs; and this one.

I’ve heard some bands disparage casino venues for their lack of atmosphere and rock ‘n’ roll cachet, but the OLG Casino stage did not distract from the music, and did feel warm with nostalgia and happiness.

Most of our favourites were performed - Situation and Don’t Go from a soulful Alison Moyet; Tainted Love and Bedsitter from a cheeky Marc Almond; and Don’t You Want Me and Fascination from The Human League. No less than 34 songs were performed and filled the room beautifully.

If you have a chance to see any or all of these artists in future, I implore you to do so. It’s the kind of thing dreams are made of.

[palmeryyz]

The #Music I listened to from age 13-17 that left the biggest emotional impact Part 50. Gary Numan, The Pleasure Principle. Well I’ve arrived at Vinyl record No. 50 in my project, and I’ve saved the best, most interesting to the last.

Gary Numan’s arc is astounding. From his punk beginnings, then charting the way for synth artists everywhere, and forging a new career after bankruptcy and what peer Andy McCluskey from OMD called “nasty, vitriolic journalism" directed at Numan by the rock-dominated press at the time of The Pleasure Principle.

What is equally remarkable is how he’s managed to survive and thrive while on the spectrum. His career, his family and the admiration from artists like Trent Reznor and Foo Fighters is testament to his character.

I’ve seen Numan three times in recent years and each was an audio-visual treat, him performing tracks from this signature album each time.

I am a Numanoid, proud of it and look forward to more creations from this amazing artist. #1979 #GaryNuman #ThePleasurePrinciple

[palmeryyz]

The #Music I listened to from age 13-17 that left the biggest emotional impact Part 49. The Romantics.

This album was so huge for me for two main reasons.

Number one I think The Romantics were one band who successfully fused rock ‘n’ roll punk and new wave in one group.

Secondly, living in Sarnia, Ontario for one year in my teenage years I was able to catch many Detroit radio waves, and The Romantics were one Detroit band that was played quite a bit. There was something special hearing them played over an analog, crackly radio that was quite exhilarating. #NewWave #1979 #Detroit #TheRomantics

[palmeryyz]

The #Music I listened to from age 13-17 that left the biggest emotional impact Part 48. Siouxsie & The Banshees, Juju.

Probably SATB’s best album, John McGeoch’s haunting guitar makes this album beyond the usual great - a masterpiece.

It also marked a transition from punk to post-punk and cemented the band forever in hearts of goths everywhere. #vinyl #1981 #siouxsieandthebanshees #juju

[palmeryyz]

The #Music I listened to from age 13-17 that left the biggest emotional impact Part 47. Simple Minds, New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84).

Damn High Fidelity and Nick Hornby, Simple Minds are a great band. Such rounded, bass/synth driven songs with Jim Kerr’s unmistakable vocals.

I saw them last summer in Toronto and they were outstanding. Kerr took time to showcase the entire band and New Gold Dream figured well in the set.

I look forward to their return and will spin this disc again soon. It’s brimming with deep, beautiful tracks. #vinyl #1982 #newgolddream #simpleminds

[palmeryyz]

The #Music I listened to from age 13-17 that left the biggest emotional impact Part 46. TRON, The Story of.

I’m a lover of all things TRON, beginning with the original 1982 film and the next 45 years to the latest film TRON:ARES.

Wendy Carlos composed the soundtrack to TRON after successful scores for Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange and The Shining and no doubt inspired future musical partnerships with Daft Punk on TRON: LEGACY and Nine Inch Nails on ARES.

But it is this soundtrack and film that takes me back to my youth and the hours spent in arcades playing #TRON and other video games. #vinyl #1982 #wendycarlos

[palmeryyz]

The #Music I listened to from age 13-17 that left the biggest emotional impact Part 45. The Beat, What Is.

The (English) Best were perhaps my favourite #ska band from the ‘80s followed closely by the Specials.

I had the great pleasure to see both bands in recent years each with their own distinct sound and energy. But I love The Beat especially for the soul they infused in their music, even after their first breakup when General Public and Fine Young Cannibals rose from the ashes. #vinyl #1983 #thebeat

[palmeryyz]

The #Music I listened to from age 13-17 that left the biggest emotional impact Part 44. Blue Peter, Version.

I first saw Blue Peter on tour with Spoons and Platinum Blonde and can remember clearly what charisma they brought to the stage.

Frontman Paul Humphrey oozed style in a way only Bryan Ferry and David Bowie could, and his moves were equally matched by his voice, also with colours of Ferry.

I remember reading when Humphrey said if his band did not have huge success, they would call it quits, and despite the success of Don’t Walk Past, the band did pack it in.

Many years later, I remember seeing Humphrey working at the Victory Café in Toronto’s Annex, and he looked almost the same as he did in the early 80s when I saw them perform. Stumbling across him stirred great memories.

Sadly, Humphrey died in 2021, way too early, leaving behind a stellar legacy in Canada’s music scene. #vinyl #1983 #bluepeter #dontwalkpast

[palmeryyz]

The #Music I listened to from age 13-17 that left the biggest emotional impact Part 43. Thomas Dolby, The Golden Age of Wireless.

#ThomasDolby and this album fascinated me. I used to watch TV shows featuring the frantic Dr. Magnus Pike when I was a kid and was intrigued when Thomas Dolby used him in the video for She Blinded Me with Science.

The video and song are great fun and really feature Dolby’s considerable musical skills. But it was Europa and the Pirate Twins as a song that really captivated me.

Later on a friend of mine, Sam, created a playlist for a Twitch show I used to have which included Dolby’s One of Our Submarines, another great track.

Such a creative and fun venture from Thomas Dolby. #vinyl #1983 #thegoldenageofwireless

[palmeryyz]

The #Music I listened to from age 13-17 that left the biggest emotional impact Part 42. The FIXX, Reach the Beach.

Certain albums conjure certain memories, and Reach the Beach brings me back to the long hot summers spent at the cottage on Hay Bay near Napanee, ON swimming, going to the Drive-In and visiting surrounding towns like Picton and Bath.

Reach the Beach on cassette along with The Police, Men at Work, defined summers for me. Happy #summersolstice. #vinyl #thefixx #reachthebeach

[palmeryyz]

The #Music I listened to from age 13-17 that left the biggest emotional impact Part 41. David Bowie, Let’s Dance.

One of my greatest regrets is never having seen #DavidBowie live and perhaps it would have been September 4, 1983 for his 25-song set at CNE Stadium on his Serious Moonlight tour.

Bowie was a chameleon of sorts, and adapted to the ‘80s brilliantly and then led the pack with the music and video from Let’s Dance. Going forward he remained in the spotlight, establishing himself firmly as a thought leader in music and culture as a whole. I’ve read recently how he insisted on showing the CBC short documentary on Ethiopia famine at Live Aid as part of his set. I remember how he hid his cancer from the world while creating Black Star, his last gift to us.

I will forever be in awe of this man.

Yesterday on a walk we came across a man and his cute dog. As we bent down to pet the pup, we asked his owner what his dog’s name was. ‘Bowie’ was his reply, and as I looked up I saw the man was sporting a Ziggy Stardust T-shirt. Bowie is everywhere 10 years after his death. #vinyl #1983 #letsdance

[palmeryyz]

The #Music I listened to from age 13-17 that left the biggest emotional impact Part 40. Koyaanisqatsi.

Inspired by the non-narrative documentary and soundtrack by Philip Glass I’ll share few words about this except to say if you can listen to the album or watch the film, do so.

It’s timeless and moving and was an experience watching at the New Yorker repertory cinema in London, ON in my youth. #Koyaanisqatsi #philipglass #vinyl #1983

[palmeryyz]

The #Music I listened to from age 13-17 that left the biggest emotional impact Part 39. Wham!, Fantastic.

Where do I begin? Let’s start with my high school girlfriend’s volleyball practices, when her team would warm up to Fantastic on a boombox. I was hooked right then.

It’s mix of disco, soul, rap and pop combined with biting lyrics made for a really deep dive. The title track, with its references to DHSS and B1 B2 (unemployment programs and forms) reflected the state of affairs for some in Britain.

The bravado shown by Wham! on Fantastic sustained throughout the band’s career and George Michael’s solo career.

Fantastic was a wonderful surprise for me and holds up so well today. Fantastic indeed. #wham #fantastic #vinyl #1983

[palmeryyz]

The #Music I listened to from age 13-17 that left the biggest emotional impact Part 38. Tears for Fears, The Hurting.

Although I never owned this as vinyl, I did have the cassette which I played many, many times.

My hunt for the vinyl version of this continues, but I did find an extended play EP for the song Change recently.

The British press’s absolute condemnation of this album drew me to it. I remember reviews, calling it overly brooding, dire, woe is me music, but I found the album quite deep. #vinyl #1983 #tearsforfears #thehurting

[palmeryyz]

The #Music I listened to from age 13-17 that left the biggest emotional impact Part 37. Bauhaus, Burning from the Inside.

#Bauhaus have always been an enigma to me, ever since my introduction via a classmate’s Bauhaus tattoo on her upper chest in biology class. Her devotion prompted me to listen to them and I was ushered into this dark, haunting, and yes gothic realm occupied by other bands like Sisters of Mercy and Siouxsie and the Banshees.

In hindsight, listening to Burning from the Inside, it’s easy to spot the elements that led to Peter Murphy’s solo career and Love and Rockets, both of which I equally adore.

There will never be anything like Bauhaus again, nor should there. #vinyl #1983

[palmeryyz]

The #Music I listened to from age 13-17 that left the biggest emotional impact Part 36. New Order, Blue Monday.

It’s Monday, today #BlueMonday and time to enter 1983 with perhaps the biggest song ever. When singles mattered more, Blue Monday went down as the best-selling single ever. Ironic when you consider New Order created it initially as a setlist filler.

Is there a more recognizable track fill or bass riff? No. Catchy as fuck and never old, New Order created magic with Blue Monday, a song that shaped almost everything after. #vinyl #1983 #neworder

[palmeryyz]

The #Music I listened to from age 13-17 that left the biggest emotional impact Part 35. Yaz, Upstairs at Eric’s.

This album is so remarkable given it was Vince Clarke’s first foray post-Depeche Mode and it introduced Alison Moyet to the world. She brought such soul to Clarke’s boundless synth melodies to create some timeless tracks. People still break out into dance instantly with Situation and Don’t Go.

Personally Goodbye Seventies is an all time favourite track and I look forward to her singing Yaz (Yazoo) tracks on the Human League Generations tour in July. #vinyl #1982 #yaz #upstairsaterics