China Crisis (Photo courtesy Paradise Artists)
New wave pioneers China Crisis celebrate 40 years with a USA tour that includes a show at City Winery DC on Sunday, July 3!
Four years ago, the Englishmen performed at City Winery for their first DC performance in 30 years, and this return is sure to be a special concert.
Formed in 1979 in Kirkby, near Liverpool, the British band originally assimilated in the batch of new wave acts of the early 1980s, led by OMD and including The Teardrop Explodes, A Flock of Seagulls, and Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Embarking on their 40th Anniversary World Tour, China Crisis brings their legendary synth sounds to City Winery.
With a core of vocalist/keyboardist Gary Daly and guitarist Eddie Lundon, China Crisis had success in the United Kingdom in the 1980s with five Top 40 singles and three Top 40 albums, as well as commercial success in Western Europe, Australia, and the Americas. A bit fiery for most in the new romantic camp during the early ’80s, China Crisis was inspired by similar sources but injected their pop songs with occasional political commentary and bluesy reggae rhythms.
The first China Crisis single, “African and White,” didn’t appear until 1982, but it was quickly picked up by Virgin Records and made the UK charts. Another single from the album, “Christian,” hit No. 12. They recorded their follow-up LP, Working with Fire and Steel: Possible Pop Songs, Vol. 2, which reached No. 20 in the UK as well as charting in Canada and across Western Europe. It also produced the Top Ten hit “Wishful Thinking.”
Watch the official music video for “Wishful Thinking” by China Crisis on YouTube:
China Crisis’ third album, 1985’s Flaunt the Imperfection, was produced by the sympathetic Walter Becker (from Steely Dan), and resulted in the Top 20 singles “Black Man Ray” and “King in a Catholic Style.” The album was their first to crack the Billboard 200 in the USA, and it hit the Top Ten in the UK and New Zealand.
China Crisis released albums What Price Paradise (1986), Diary of a Hollow Horse (1989), and Warped by Success (1994) before taking a break from recording (but not performing). The band returned to the studio for the excellent Autumn in the Neighborhood in 2015.
China Crisis
City Winery
Sunday, July 3
Doors @ 6pm
$30
All ages