Hurts and Kylie at the Brixton Academy

If there is one thing you can rely on Hurts to deliver, it is theatricality and they certainly supplied it by the bucket load as their ‘Happiness’ tour came to an end at Brixton Academy. Led on stage by a funeral procession of cloaked women brandishing black flags, Hurts made it very clear that their live show was set to be a treat for the eyes as well as the ears. Every minute dramatic detail was accounted for, from the pitch–black feather headdresses worn by the dancers to Theo’s black leather gloves gripped around white roses.

Breathing new life into the synth pop genre, once dominated by the likes of Ultravox and Depeche Mode, Hurts proved that their live shows are not all style over substance thanks to moving tracks like ‘Wonderful Life’ and ‘Stay’. The accompaniment of such an impressive band, particularly the all–female strings section, gave the music a grandiose quality that often teetered on the edge of opera in its delivery and dramatic quality. The Black Swan–style dancers added to the dramatic element of the gig, making it very clear that this was not just a live repeat of the album but a theatrical performance like no other.

At times the amateur dramatics drifted into the realms of tediousness with front man Theo Hutchcraft being overcome with emotion and feigning weeping or collapsing into fits of tremors. Such an over-emotional performance may be perceived as self–indulgent and frankly unnecessary when the power of the album speaks for itself. However, it may also be argued that ‘Happiness’ works so well because it thrives in its self–indulgence and, when performed live, gives fans the chance to clutch at their hearts, reach out for an air–grab and sing along at the top of their voice. Ultimately, Hurts create the sort of emotional pop music that Westlife and their key-change device would kill for.

The surprise appearance of Kylie Minogue brought gasps, hollers and even tears to some members of the audience as she arrived to perform the duet ‘Devotion’ with Theo. Immediately after, the pair performed a rendition of Kylie’s own ‘Confide In Me’, giving Hurts the chance to put their own atmospheric twist on the track. It seems like an odd pairing to match the ‘Princess of Pop’ with the moody duo but her appearance gave both singers the chance to showcase their impressive vocals, harmonising together perfectly.

Finishing the night with their breakout single ‘Better Than Love’, Hurts drew the line under the ‘Happiness’ tour with a triumphant performance of the tracks that propelled them to where they are now. So many artists strive to create an impressive live show and in doing so often forget about the importance of perfecting the music, some artists even forget the vocals altogether (don’t they Britney?). The final leg of the ‘Happiness’ tour has proven that Hurts have managed to complement the intensity of their debut album with an equally atmospheric live show, leaving fans yearning for more.