A storming reprise of the Pet Shop Boys’ era-surfing Dreamworld show.

The re-ignition of my gigging life happened in spectacular style this mid-June week of 2023. Fresh from a jaunt to Bath to see the Manic Street Preachers, I found myself hurtling to Wembley Arena a few days later to see another of the most important bands of my life, the Pet Shop Boys, who were continuing their career-celebrating greatest hits show, Dreamworld.

I’d spent the day leading up to the gig looking at social media in some consternation, with travel chaos being predicted post-gig due to the Harry Styles show at Wembley Stadium happening at the same time. The journey up to the arena was fine at least, and I actually loved seeing all the young girls on the tube, all done up for their night with Harry. Pink cowboy hats and feather boas seemed to be the order of the day, and seeing the scattered feathers that had broken free all about the place took me back to those early Manics gigs, especially the Move festival show in 2003 when the wind was creating a bit of a feathered blizzard. I felt a tinge of envy for these youthful intrepid fans, for nothing can compare to the thrill of being young and about to see that band or singer who means everything to you. But I was also just happy to see that despite the crazy, algorithm-driven world these girls have grown up in, nothing can stop them from finding meaning in pop music. And in twenty or thirty years time they’ll be doing what I do now: heading out to see the bands who’ve grown older with me and accompanied me through all the slings and arrows of life. That electrifying thrill may be dimmed, but the power only intensifies with each passing year.

I got to the arena and procured an extortionate single JD and coke for £12, and found my seat. I’d known since buying the ticket that I was going to be in third the row, but for some reason I’d imagined that I’d be to the far side somewhere, so it was with delight that I discovered my position was dead centre. I’ve never had such a brilliant seat at a gig. Slightly less brilliant was how closely packed together the seats were, and once those around me were filled it was slightly uncomfortable, bumping shoulders with the dudes to either side of me. I hoped it would be better once we were all up and dancing, but it was still a bit cramped as the guys next to me were a bit static.

However, any discomfort mattered very little once the Pet Shop boys were on stage, catapulting through their hugest tunes at such proximity. It was almost identical to the May ’22 set, but such a treat to see it up close. As Neil stood centre stage in a variety of stylish suits, I could see every nuance of expression on his face, and at times it seemed he was conducting a conversation with the crowd rather than just singing to us.

The first ten or so songs were a solid wall of hits. The highlight for me was “Can You Forgive Her”, always a particular delight to hear live, taking me back to the glorious Australian summer of November 1994 when I first got to see the Boys live on the Discovery tour.

In the middle, we were treated to the more recent and delightfully bonkers “Monkey Business” and the disco thrills of “New York City Boy”. Best of all was “Jealousy”, one of my all time favourites. At such close proximity, Neil may almost have been singing it straight to me, and me back to him. The only change to the setlist was sadly the loss of another of my faves, “You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You’re Drunk”. Instead, we got a storming “Paninaro”, our one chance for a Chris moment as he was largely invisible behind his keys.

Like last time, it was the second half of the show that escalated into pure euphoria, “Heart” segueing into “What Have I Done To Deserve This” with the impeccable, addicting vocals of Clare Uchima taking on the Dusty Springfield sections. Then “It’s Alright” into “Vocal”, perfect rave ecstasy, followed by the untouchable anthems of “Go West” and “It’s A Sin”. It was a truly glorious stretch of songs taking me back through the decades of my time as a Pet Shop boys fan, but as ever, I didn’t find myself wallowing in nostalgia or emotion, just living in the adrenaline-spiked moment, the NOW that the Pet Shop Boys can always return me to.

I had considered leaving before the encore, to dodge the Harry crowds, but it was only just 10pm and I knew that there were only two songs to go, so it was worth the risk. “West End Girls” was peerless as ever, and as ever, to end, there was “Being Boring”, a stalwart friend. Then, in a stroke of perfect timing, we were out just in time to see the fireworks blasting over Wembley Stadium as Harry’s concert ended.

Here in 2024, the Boys have been carrying on with their Dreamworld show. I was tempted to experience it again at the Royal Opera House, with my memories of the incredible Inner Sanctum shows there in 2018, but a summer full of health gremlins put a stop to any such plans. More than anything, I’d love to experience a new Pet Shop Boys era and tour, but with Neil now 70 years old and their latest album “Nonetheless” fully absorbed into the Dreamworld era, there’s a possibility that this may never come. Whatever the future holds for the Boys, I’m so grateful to have had them soundtracking my life, and to have three decades of memories of the incredible pop perfection of the Pet Shop Boys live experience.