Welcome to North Coast Music Beat!
You'll find enticing reviews, unique interviews, amazing photos and an eye on new artists!

July 2, 2026

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The Human League led a trifecta of '80s new wave artists at Northfield Park Racino last night.  

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First up was Alison Moyet.  Best known as a part of the synth-pop duo Yazoo (Yaz in the US), Moyet played songs from that group as well as her own solo career.  She told the audience that her plane was delayed and she had arrived just forty-five minutes before hitting the stage, noting "I just had enough time to put some paint on my face."

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The Gen X crowd really enjoyed her set, especially when she went into the familiar beats of the Yazoo classics "Situation" and "Don't Go."

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Next to take the stage was Soft Cell.  Marc Almond is out celebrating the music that he and his late partner, David Bell created in the 70's and '80s.

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Backed by just a keyboardist and two singers, Almond tore through the seven song set with aplomb.  Saving the biggest hit, "Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go" Almond had everyone on their feet and singing along.

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The Human League have not toured the US since 2011 and they saved Cleveland as the last stop on their US tour.  Three members of the Dare lineup of the band Philip Oakey, Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall made up for lost time by playing a great set of new wave tunes.

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The band was fantastic and all three members were in great voice.  

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Memories started flooding back to the MTV era once they started playing tunes like "Mirror Man" and "Tell Me When" and "Human."

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The main set ended with back to back hits "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" and "Don't You Want Me."  The band then returned to encore with "Being Boiled" and "Together In Electric Dreams."

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It was a great trip down memory lane with three of the artists that made MTV special for kids growing up in the '80s.

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Photos and review by Greg Drugan

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