Last week, Tears for Fears kicked off a North American tour with openers Garbage. The British band was in fine form from the start, with co-founders Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith spinning through a setlist full of hits that showed off their range. "Shout" emerged as a prog-inflected slow burn; "Change" was a sizzling dance break; and the "Head Over Heels" was as majestic as a royal ceremony. For good measure, the setlist included deeper cuts (including "Suffer the Children") and Tears for Fears songs released when Smith wasn't in the band, namely 1993's post-psychedelic cascade "Break It Down Again."
The tour is pegged to Tears For Fears' latest album, 2022's "The Tipping Point," a dense album shaped by personal, social and cultural earthquakes. Atmospheric synths, warm electronic production, skyscraping chorus hooks, and keening lead vocals and harmonies abound, led by the stunning "Rivers of Mercy" and the turbulent title track. Sacha Skarbek, who co-wrote James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" and songs for Adele and Jason Mraz, adds an aggressive touch on the electro-prog standout "My Demons," while long-time Tears for Fears band member/songwriter collaborator Charlton Pettus adds flourishes throughout, tying together the contributions from Orzabal and Smith.
