a-ha

Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham on Tue 29th Mar 2016

Tonight is a first for me, a-ha were ever present through my teenage years, I remember hearing 'Take On Me' on the radio and going to buy it from 'Woolworths', the first issue, not the re-release, when it got to number 100 and something in the pop charts, I know I'm showing my age, but who cares, after the re-release of the epic 'Take On Me' video which shaped music video production for years to come, and which set a milestone with music videos, the single rocketed little known A-HA to mega stardom.

A-HA have been around for 30+ years and they have stood the test of time, Debut album 'Hunting High and Low' was one of the best-selling albums of 1986 with its iconic tracks 'Take On Me' and 'The Sun Always Shines On TV', and with more than 100 million records sold, with ten studio albums to their name and three live albums, with break-ups and reunions a plenty, they're back again.

The tour tonight is to celebrate recent release 'Cast in Steel', which was released late in 2015, the UK Tour is at its end with the last show tonight, their European tour starts 30.04.16 with 20+ dates until mid-May visiting France, Germany, Switzerland and Norway.

Back in the day Morten was top totty, steamingly good looking and even in his fifties he still has those chiselled good looks, even if he is wearing aviators tonight. And yes I did have posters of him on my bedroom wall, along with Spandau Ballet and The Police.

The audience like me tonight is middle aged, we all have our crosses to bare. And they too have probably come to the gig to relive their youth.

The show kicked off at 8.50 with A-ha gracing the stage, with 7 big screens as the video wall, which showed various graphics throughout the night to complement each song. Just lights, the video screens and the band, no frills, just the music and the back catalogue of immense hits.

The show was very nostalgic to say the least, I was back in my bedroom as an 11 year old staring at the beautiful young man (Morten Harket) on all the posters that graced my bedroom wall, How gorgeous was he. I was slightly disappointed as he seemed quite shy to me, with Magne Furuholmen taking the lead and chatting to the audience all night, even at times pleading with Harket to say something.

The first three songs were stonking and set the tone of what was to be expected throughout the night with the amazing back catalogue 'I've Been Losing You', 'Move to Memphis' and 'Cry Wolf', I was mesmerised totally, especially after not seeing the band live before.

Stand out tracks for me on the night were the epic 'Stay On These Roads', 'Crying In the Rain', 'Hunting High and Low' and obviously showstoppers 'Take on Me' and 'The Sun Always Shines on TV'.

Unfortunately I wasn't a big fan of the new material, I found it a bit drab and tedious, it's nothing like all the old gems, which is what I'd gone to see and by god I cherished every note. It had only taken me 30 years to see them!

The only gripe had had of the evening was Morten disappeared for three songs and this annoyed me a little, I wasn't interested in the other members singing, or the backing singer, I wanted to see Morten Harket and in particular A-ha, especially as I'd waited 30 years!

A 23 song set which was a rollercoaster ride, I did enjoy it, but found my train of thought (no pun intended) drifting when the newer songs were being played. I'm glad I did make the effort to see the show and it's now ticked off the bucket list. The old hits were definitely the best and yes Morten is still fit, but so is Magne, he's probably seen the test of time better and weathered the storm of age more gracefully, Yes he's fit too lol.

What a night, glad I made the effort, oh to be 11 again.

article by: Michelle Owen-Williams

photos by: Michelle Owen-Williams

published: 31/03/2016 15:56



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