Line-up

Headliner
China Crisis Last time in Hassocks: First time!

Venue

Mid Sussex Music Hall

Station Approach East, BN6 8HN, Hassocks, UK

Capacity: 220

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China Crisis biography

China Crisis are a band that formed in 1979, Liverpool that achieved chart success throughout the 1980s, having had two albums certified Gold in the UK.

After signing a record deal with Virgin Records, China Crisis released their debut album “Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It’s Fun to Entertain” in December 1982. The album shot up the UK Albums charts to number 21 and was later certified Silver. Their career thereafter would go on to grow exponentially, with their sophomore efforts “Working with Fire and Steel – Possible Pop Songs” going to number 20 in the UK Charts and being certified Gold. “Wishful Thinking” was the biggest song from the album, managing to secure a place at number 9 in the UK charts.

It was “Flaunt the Imperfection” that was released in 1985 that catapulted the band to new levels of success making it to number 9 in the UK Albums charts. The album featured singles such as “Black Man Ray” which went to number 14 in the UK Chart and “King in a Catholic Style” which went to number 19 in the UK.

China Crisis followed their previous success by working with producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, on their album “What Price Paradise” which was later released in 1986. The album featured the song “Arizona Sky” which was the first single release from the band. It was the song “Best Kept Secret” that went to number 36 in the UK Singles Chart. Their following album “Diary of a Hollow Horse” released in 1989 was the fifth studio album by the band, unfortunately, it didn’t match the commercial success of previous records, but it still managed to achieve number 58 in the UK Albums Chart.

The band made a comeback in the 2000s with many national tours of the UK, including one in 2013.

Live reviews

I had the most beautiful concert experience I can remember while watching China Crisis live for the first time. The beauty in what China Crisis does in their simple precision. They simply write beautiful lyrics and have a knack for coming up with catchy elegant pop music to back it up.

The stage setup was sparse, intentionally, so we as the crowd would focus on the individuals playing the music on stage. The focus at the concert was on the music, not on the theatrics of the actual performers. It was very entrancing, the effect in the darkened theater was akin to having a private performance for each member of the audience.

The music itself was so uplifting and poppy that I instantly fell in love with it. It was pure ear candy. "Wishful Thinking" was a particularly engrossing, you could tell that the band had a real affection for that particular song the way to put their hearts and soul into the performance.

After the initial performance these guys came out for not one but two encores - that's home much they appreciate their fans! Great show, highly recommended that you check them out if they come to an area near you!

Anonymous