The Psychedelic Furs at the Truman

The Psychedelic Furs' touring machine roared into Kansas City for a fun-filled Friday night show at the Truman on May 10.

The Furs have been touring pretty much nonstop over the past several years. Since 2013, we have seen them twice in Nebraska, another time in Kansas City, once in Denver, and once in Iowa. That's not a bad record for tour stops in and near the Midwest.

At the most recent Kansas City date, the band was supported by Royston Langdon of Spacehog fame. (Soon the Furs will be heading back out on the road with James.) Alone onstage, Langdon played an introspective acoustic set featuring songs like his band's big hit, "In the Meantime,” and David Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes."

Good, Williams, Paul Garisto, and Tim Butler. At top, the brothers Butler.
Photos by Christopher Windle.

In contrast, it was clear that the Furs were there to show the crowd a good time. Singer Richard Butler and his band, somewhat resembling a group of merry pirates with their shaggy hair, bounded onstage to "Heartbeat" and kept the energy high from there on.

The Furs played to a crowd that hadn't seen the band in their city for almost three years. The talents of guitarist Rich Good on tracks like "Mr. Jones" and saxophonist Mars Williams, adding a flourish of horns to songs including "Like a Stranger," impressed the audience. There were sing-alongs to "Love My Way," "Pretty in Pink," and the band's biggest-charting hit, "Heartbreak Beat," which closed the show.

Though the band got a bit political with the ever-precient "President Gas," the show was mainly a time to party. Like the best first wave '80s artists, the Furs offer music that fans can escape to. And the world could use an escape right now.

So the Furs delivered, with a shimmering piece of "Heaven," the '80s movie anthem "Pretty in Pink," and the driving post-punk of "India."

The Furs are one of the most consistent touring acts, with an impressive back catalog to draw from for its setlists. The only room for improvement would be the addition of new music to the show. Here's hoping a long-awaited next album is finally on the way.