Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Red hot on the heels of a sold out Chicago Theatre comeback earlier this year, Culture Club returned to the area at the increasingly prominent Genesee Theatre in Waukegan. The ‘80s A-listers and all around pop culture centerpieces may have spent much of the night focusing on its first round of fame, but the newly reunited foursome consisting of singer Boy George, guitarist Roy Hay, bassist Mikey Craig and drummer Jon Moss also offered a preview of the forthcoming “Tribes,” which will mark their first long player since 1999.

Culture Club also keyed into its new wave/new romantic beginnings for “Miss Me Blind” and “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?,” both of which found fans screaming along in bliss over an English act that lands on American shores far too infrequently.

The colorful party kicked off with the cheerful throwbacks “Church Of The Poison Mind,” “It’s A Miracle” and “I’ll Tumble For Ya,” finding the Boy and the band looking as happy and healthy as ever. Even more essential to the show was the fact that they all sounded fantastic, whether it was during the reggae-infused cover of Bread’s “Everything I Own,” the dramatic ballad “Black Money” the blue-eyed soul of “Time (Clock Of The Heart)” or the funky newcomers “Like I Used To” and “Different Man.”

Culture Club also keyed into its new wave/new romantic beginnings for “Miss Me Blind” and “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?,” both of which found fans screaming along in bliss over an English act that lands on American shores far too infrequently. “Victims” made for another slowly building crescendo, while “The War Song” wrapped an urgent call for unity around a jovial backbeat to land the initial portion of set.

It was no surprise that the quirky “Karma Chameleon” came next, which despite its continued popularity, isn’t really one of Culture Club’s strongest songs, though the mandatory inclusion was nonetheless delivered with professionalism. From there, the guys went beyond their own storied catalogue for an emotional tribute to Prince with “Purple Rain” and T. Rex’s glammy “Get It On” as each player had the chance to solo and propel the celebratory vibe surrounding this momentous reconnection well beyond the final bows.

Click here for more Culture Club photos from the Genesee Theatre.

For additional information on Culture Club, visit CultureClub.co.uk.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Genesee Theatre include The Monkees (Nov. 4); The Avett Brothers (Nov. 5); Goo Goo Dolls (Nov. 9); Styx (Nov. 10); The B-52’s (Nov. 11); Peter Cetera (Nov. 12); Ronnie Spector (Dec. 1); LeAnn Rimes (Dec. 2); Margaret Cho (Dec. 9); Kenny G (Dec. 15); Wizards Of Winter (Dec. 16); Plain White T’s (Dec. 28) and Morris Day & The Time (Dec. 29). For additional details, visit GeneseeTheatre.com.

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