Seal blows the Chicago Theatre a “Kiss From A Rose,” plus Trevor Horn’s The Buggles bonus

Seal Photo provided by Rhino / Warner Records

When Seal debuted with a boundary-shattering blend of rock, pop, soul and dance, there was no one like the British singer/songwriter/guitarist, who even now on the “30th Anniversary” Tour, stands out to just as distinctive of a degree.

Besides his own booming voice and presence, a key component was collaborating with Trevor Horn, the technologically-ambitious producer who played a significant role in sculpting the 1980s onward, including work with ABC, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Yes, in addition to briefly fronting the latter act.

SealAt the landmark Chicago Theatre, not only was Seal on hand for a celebration of basically his first two self-titled albums, but the rarely performing Horn served as musical director of six supporting players.

Together, they tore through his signature “Crazy” to start, then dove deeply into each cutting edge collection, boldly delivering “The Beginning,” “Deep Water,” “Future Love Paradise,” “Violet” and “Bring It On.”

The attention to craftsmanship, both in style and substance, continued throughout the reflective likes of “Prayer For The Dying,” “Don’t Cry” and “Fast Changes,” while the groove and mood exponentially elevated come “Killer,” especially as Seal cruised through the crowd.

He remained standing on the seats to blow Chicago Theatre a “Kiss From A Rose,” yet another defining anthem and opportunity for fans to accompany the beautiful chorus that became the centerpiece of “Batman Forever.”

The 60-year-old Seal offered up an ageless encore of “Get It Together,” followed by a sign-requested snippet of “Waiting For You” to introduce “Love’s Divine,” a final and simply sublime example why he’s lasted this long.

SealAs for Horn, 73, he opened with a band branded as new wave innovators The Buggles, but was really just joined by the headliner’s musicians without fellow Yes-man Geoff Downes, who’s been back with that group for well over a decade.

Regardless of how it was billed, an instrumental of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s “Two Tribes” and Art Of Noise’s “Close (To The Edit)” showcased everyone’s enviable chops, while Horn could still impress with his Yes production “Owner Of A Lonely Heart,” despite not technically performing anything from the progressive rockers’ underrated “Drama” and “Fly From Here – Return Trip” albums he actually fronted.

However, they did tackle The Buggles’ electro-pop version of “I Am A Camera,” and of course, “Video Killed The Radio Star,” coming across as fabulously fun as the day it literally launched MTV and permanently etched the foretelling duo into the halls of history.


For additional information on Seal and The Buggles, visit SealOfficial.com and Facebook.com/TrevorHornOfficial.

For a list of upcoming Live Nation concerts, visit LiveNation.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Chicago Theatre include H.E.R. (Jun. 15); Rodrigo y Gabriela (Jun. 16); Lyle Lovett (Jun. 18); Jinkx Monsoon (Jul. 14); Kansas (Jul. 15); Jill Scott (Jul. 24-25); Ed Sheeran (Jul. 28); Ray LaMontagne (Sept. 27); Gregory Alan Isakov (Oct. 1); Ringo Starr And His All Starr Band (Oct. 5); Bonnie Raitt (Oct. 8); The Temptations and The Four Tops (Oct. 14); My Morning Jacket (Nov. 9-11); Liz Phair (Nov. 18); Faith Evans, Kelly Price and Jon B. (Nov. 24). For additional details, visit TheChicagoTheatre.com.