Howard Jones

August 2023 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for a recent production of Il Signor Bruschino at Rossini at Wildbad by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums of August

1. Karol G- Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season)

Pop perfection.

2. Jaimie Branch- Fly Or Die Fly Or Die Fly Or Die (world war)

This ain’t no picnic.

3. Jonathan Blake- Passage

My review.

4. Bonnie “Prince” Billy- Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You

Spill the beans.

5. Grupo Frontera- El Comienzo

A celebratory debut.

6. Arnold Dreyblatt- Resolve

Classical grit.

7. Evan Parker- Etching the Ether

My review.

8. Miguel Zenón y Luis Perdomo- El Arte del Bolero, Vol. 2

Transcendent duo.

9. Bobby Rush- All My Love for You

He’s the one.

10. Ratboys- The Window

Heartland rock.



Top Ten Songs of August

1. L’Rain- “Pet Rock”

Heavy.

2. Turnstile and Badbadnotgood- “Underwater Boi”

Aqualung.

3. Noname with $ilkmoney, Billy Woods and Stout- “gospel?”

Fight song.

4. Kirk Franklin- “Try Love”

The gospel truth.

5. Armand Hammer with Elucid, Billy Woods and Pink Siifu- “Trauma Mic”

Crisis of faith.

6. Earl Sweatshirt, The Alchemist and Mike- “Sentry”

Drowsy.

7. Snoh Aalegra- “Wait a Little Longer”

Patience.

8. Doja Cat- "Paint the Town Red"

Walk on by.

9. Miguel and Lil Yachty- “Number 9”

Pet sounds.

10. EST Gee with Yo Gotti- “A Moment with Gotti”

Time stands still.



Top Ten Performances of August

1. Kassa Overall and Omari Jazz at Mississippi Studios

My Instagram clip.

2. Parker Quartet at Polsky Theatre

My review.

3. Randy Porter, Tom Wakeling and Todd Strait at the 1905

My review.

4. Truth Cult, Young Mvchetes and Burning Bush at Howdy

My review.

5. The Clientele and Papercuts at Mississippi Studios

My review.

6. Culture Club, Howard Jones and Berlin at Starlight Theatre

My review.

7. The Phil Collins Experience at Barkley Square

My review.

8. Jass at Second Presbyterian Church

My Instagram clip.

9. Claes Almroth Trio at Starday Tavern

My Instagram snapshot.

10. Rich Hill Trio and True Lions at Volker Park

My Instagram snapshot.



The previous monthly survey is here.

Concert Review: Culture Club, Howard Jones and Berlin at Starlight Theatre

Original image of Culture Club by There Stands the Glass.

I can’t resist a bargain. Two hours before showtime, I bought a $20 ticket ($27.15 after junk fees) to hear a trio of one-time MTV staples at Starlight Theatre on Tuesday, August 8. Approximately 6,000 people attended the nostalgic concert.

Berlin won the night. The group has largely abandoned the dated synth-pop production of its hits for a sturdier rock orientation. A cover of the Cult’s “She Sells Sanctuary” and a giddy reading of “Sex (I’m a)”- a song I hadn’t heard in 40 years- were especially pleasing. 

The music of Howard Jones invariably reminds me of the slogan of a Christian radio network: “positive, encouraging.” He’s perfected an enlightened form of disposable pop. The presence of sideman Nick Beggs necessitated a fun interpretation of the 1983 Kajagoogoo hit “Too Shy.”

Having always been indifferent to the group, I hadn’t previously caught Culture Club live. A lilting take on Ken Boothe’s version of “Everything I Own” allowed me to finally make sense of the band’s winning formula. 

Culture Club is simply a lite-reggae outfit with a charismatic vocalist. Having ascertained the veracity of the minor revelation, I left the iconic venue 50 minutes into the headliner’s performance feeling I’d received more than my money’s worth.