The best music is heartfelt and true, and it is played by musicians who possess great talent and powerful insight in bringing it to life.
Consider then four Englishmen who play electronic music and do so with such passion and skill that they win praise around the world for their continually fresh new wave sound. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark recently showcased that very prowess when opening their 2025 North American tour over two nights at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, DC.
On May 22 and 23 at DC’s historic Lincoln Theatre, OMD delivered the gift of new music, presenting five selections from their most recent album, Bauhaus Staircase. The band hit an emotional high at the midpoint of their show with the record’s “Veruschka,” which they presented aligned as a quartet along the apron of the stage in the style of Kraftwerk, the groundbreaking synthpop act that continues to exert a tremendous influence on OMD’s work.
OMD frontman Andy McCluskey crooned: “And if you never learn to cry/ How will you ever say goodbye,” and the performance sent chills through the sold-out room because Andy and his bandmates believed it. “Veruschka” ranks among the very best OMD songs because it deftly marries haunting, emotional lyrical imagery to a beautiful, alluring melody — a hallmark of these four veteran music makers.
Watch the official music video for “Veruschka” by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark on YouTube:
I am among those who have deeply appreciated OMD’s music for more than four decades now, and yet they still are able to surprise people who sometimes didn’t get the message in that time. On their first sold-out night at Lincoln Theatre, I saw many of my Gen X brethren in attendance, but the second sold-out night welcomed many young faces and sprightly energy to the venue. But look also to the band’s outstanding set at the Cruel World Festival in Pasadena, California, on May 17.
At Cruel World, OMD crushed a midday turn with 11 killer numbers that managed to surprise the Los Angeles Times although this is what McCluskey and company have been consistently doing for a long time! The LA Times hailed OMD’s performance as “an unexpected favorite” and praised their “high energy.” I too was there, and I would say the band simply met their usual high standards. OMD excelled in part because of their showmanship; Andy played to the cameras and interacted well with the audience, who happily danced and waved their hands at his suggestion.
That same level of showmanship was on full display at the Lincoln Theatre over two nights. OMD clearly got a kick out of the strong reaction to their concert on the first evening and came back even more energized for the second evening. The professorial Paul Humphreys was positively glowing as he basked in the love of the audience, and he stole scenes from his lead vocals on signature tunes “(Forever) Live and Die” from The Pacific Age (1986) and “Secret” from Crush (1985), one of three encore songs.
Paul’s bonhomie was matched by his compatriots. Drummer Stuart Kershaw was a chipper dynamo as he drilled down into the percussive power of the OMD catalog. He was particularly impressive in the varied sonic landscapes of the twin Joan of Arc songs — “Joan of Arc” and “Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans)” — both from fan-favorite album Architecture and Morality (1981). The band played the songs back to back in the middle of the show. Stuart set the tone with the first of the numbers, an asymmetric pop song that captures the majestic romance of top OMD tunes; he got our blood flowing when the beat dropped halfway through. Then, he seamlessly changed it up for the military rhythm of the alternative waltz “Maid of Orleans” and its driving rat-tat-tat beat.
Watch the official music video for “Maid of Orleans” by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark on YouTube:
Keyboardist Martin Cooper radiated confidence and a reserved happiness as he played through the 21-song set at the Lincoln Theatre both nights. Martin took the spotlight for his famed sax solos; he perhaps received the biggest reaction for his sax part in “So in Love,” a USA hit lifted from 1985’s Crush.
OMD played other excellent selections from Bauhaus Staircase (2023), their 14th studio album, opening the show with the thrilling sci-fi epic “Anthropocene” and opening their encore with the moving “Look at You Now.” (But no title track, “Bauhaus Staircase,” to the disappointment of many despite the song making its live debut in California in 2023). The band also played many of the songs that you would want to hear from years past — early in the show they played the great “Tesla Girls” and late, “Locomotion” — both terrific tunes from Junk Culture (1984).
The band capped the first quarter of the show with the earworm “History of Modern (Part 1)” from the album of the same name (2010). Andy once told me that album gave the band the confidence that they could yet write a quintessential OMD album, empowering them to push the envelope a bit on their three successive remarkable albums. But then Andy always had a knack for writing utterly memorable tunes. At the concert’s one-third mark, OMD played the most memorable tune ever, their breakthrough hit “If You Leave” from the John Hughes movie Pretty in Pink. Andy gave it an appropriate sense of drama — and the strategic placement of the song relatively early in the set kept the audience grooving in anticipation of what would come next.
To close the main set, OMD dove into the power and passion of “Enola Gay,” a sophomore album number that ranks among the greatest pop songs ever recorded IMO. The smart if dark lyrics and buoyant melody of “Enola Gay” capture OMD at their best, highlighting the distinctive mix of elements that give OMD heart.
And of course, OMD wrapped their encore with the unstoppable “Electricity,” a futurist ode to scientific discovery, the likes of which have run thematically through OMD’s music since Andy and Paul wrote the song way back in 1976. (I loved how they turned their Cruel World set on its head by starting with this number during the festival.)
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark have just begun their 2025 North American tour, so do yourself a favor and go see this show live. It’s no surprise: OMD still have the power and passion that propel them to the top.
Here are some photos of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark performing live at the Lincoln Theatre in DC on May 22, 2025, the first of two nights. All pictures by Mickey McCarter.
Here are some photos of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark performing live at the Lincoln Theatre in DC on May 23, 2025, the second of two nights. All pictures by Mickey McCarter.
Nice review. We are only going to catch one show this tour, Denver, but when you live in BFE Arizona, you do what you can. Got to love the lads.