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A-Ha Play Second-Ever Chicago Show on Farewell Tour

A-Ha's Morten HarketLast fall, Norwegian synthpop trio A-Ha announced they were disbanding after 25 years and nine albums together, but not before a worldwide farewell tour called "Ending on a High Note." With seven dates slated in the US, A-Ha played only their second Chicago show ever Thursday night at the Riviera Theatre, their first since 1986.

Eschewing a typical opening band, the group cut right to the chase and opened with 'The Bandstand' from last year's 'Foot of the Mountain' album. Adorned in sleek suits and backed by a drummer and guitarist, A-Ha looked and sounded better than ever while a huge background screen flashed various pixelated images of everything from hummingbirds to Obama to complement the song lyrics.

After playing 'Foot of the Mountain,' the band moved onto older material. Sophomore record 'Scoundrel Days' was the most represented album with six songs including 'The Swing of Things,' 'We're Looking for the Whales' and 'Manhattan Skyline' where lead singer Morten Harket opted to use a megaphone instead of a pedal to distort his voice. Harket's signature falsetto chops remained intact on the operatic 'Summer Moved On' and the love ballad 'Stay on These Roads.' "The last time we were in Chicago was a long time ago," keyboardist Magne Furuholmen told the crowd. "You've been very patient."

The band dipped into their James Bond theme song, 'The Living Daylights,' from the titular 1987 film, replete with Bond-esque images of silhouetted gyrating women and a barrage of bursting flames on screen. For a "change of pace," the backup band abandoned the stage and left the three members to perform two stripped-down versions of the glockenspiel-fueled 'And You Tell Me' and 'Early Morning' from 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon.'

Before the first encore, A-Ha walked off stage and screened a bittersweet photo montage titled "25 Years in the Making," which featured old band photos throughout the decades accompanied by an instrumental score. Naturally, A-Ha savored the heavy hitters for the end -- during 'Hunting High and Low,' the title track off their landmark 1985 album of the same name, Harket transformed the audience into a choir. 'The Sun Always Shines on TV,' also from 'Hunting', flickered clips from 50 years of popular TV shows and garnered a standing ovation.

Finally, it was the moment everyone was waiting for: 'Take on Me.' Instantly recognizing the opening keyboard sequence to their biggest and only US hit, the audience squealed in excitement as visuals from the iconic video oscillated on screen. Relishing their final minutes, the band stood together onstage, bowed before their loyal fans in curtain call fashion and waved one last goodbye.

A-Ha play their final US show in Los Angeles on Sunday and their last-ever show in Norway in December.

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coolkevs

I have been very lucky to see a-ha 3 times - in Munich in 2000, New York in 2005, and now Chicago in 2010. It was probably my least favorite show due to sound issues (or am I just getting old) - I really couldn't hear Paul's guitar or the harmonies. In fact, a couple of times I saw Paul with an acoustic guitar, and I was thinking "What's the point?" Not sure if it was the Riviera's fault or what. Needless to say, my favorite parts of the concert were the quieter "And You Tell Me" (which I probably hadn't listened to in over 10 years!) and "Early Morning" But the band is always very professional - Morten's voice was superb, especially on "Summer Moved On" and I really enjoyed the visual presentations. The 25-year montage even brought a brief tear to these jaded eyes :) Overall, though, excellent job and I wish I would have stayed around for a signing myself...sigh... it is sad, but a-ha has left us with over 100 recorded tunes, not including the solo projects, so it will be part of my soundtrack for the rest of my life!

May 18 2010 at 5:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
aladmiral

Amazing show!!! Very intimate and the guys sounded so good... One very unfortunate thing - took some pictures and videos at the concert but they all got deleted by accident when I got home. If anybody has any pictures to share, pls., pls., pls. email them to me. I'd be greatful forever...

May 18 2010 at 5:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
amazing!!

It was an amazing concert!! I couldn't go 24/25 years ago when they were here last and it was well worth the wait. They were incredible - I was SOOO impressed. Morten's voice just makes me melt and I kept my eyes on him the entire time. I WISH WISH WISH I stuck around for autographs because I would die to get a picture with him!!

May 15 2010 at 2:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sheila Beaudoin

I am SO jealous of the 1.5 hours of autograph signings. :0( I waited three days....not wanting to be one of the pushingly rude crowd pulling and tugging and disrespecting Morten with my insistence. I even let people ahead of me, helped them get autographs and offered to take pictures, waiting for my calm turn. But, how was I rewarded for my kindness? He left each time, before we were done, then the third night none of the band signed autographs at all. They just took off leaving their limo behind. :0( Oh well. The concerts were brilliant and unforgettable. God bless! :0)

May 15 2010 at 8:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jess the Badfaerie

It was one of the most amazing concerts i've ever attended - Morten's incredible vocal range and performance was so electric it felt as if i was connected to a giant battery...

A few of us drove up from Indianapolis (Chicago is my hometown) and it was a magnificent homecoming for me to see the band play at the Riv. We got a chance to hear snippets from the soundcheck (hooray for "Move to Memphis") and their sound was impeccable.

"Summer Moved On" i don't even have words to describe the feeling hearing that world record note live...

AND Morten stayed around for about an hour and a half signing autographs!

Well played, gentlemen. It was worth the 24 year wait, and i'll treasure those moments forever.

May 14 2010 at 10:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
A-ha Mexico

I really wish I had been there!

I am happy for the ones who were able to go!!

Thanks for the review and we really hope they never stop.

May 14 2010 at 1:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to A-ha Mexico's comment
Carlos Chan

K mal k fue practicamente a todo sudamerica y no Mexico
Yo pude asistir al GIG de NY y aki en Chicago.
El de Chicago estubo mas euforico y mas intimo.

saludos suerte

May 20 2010 at 2:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Happy

The show was great - the venue was quite intimate and unlike concerts at United Center where the artists are hardly visible with the bare eye, you could even make out facial features at the A-Ha concert in the Riviera.

Morten's voice is fantastic (still after all these years). Magne, Paul and the backup band did a really great job as well - and I really liked the visuals.

It was really fun to finally see them live after listening to their music for so many years. If you have a chance to catch them before the end of the tour, it is highly recommended you go!!

May 14 2010 at 12:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply