The Fixx, The Relatives concert review: San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

photo: George A. Paul

On Sunday night, The Fixx played one of the most riveting concerts I’ve seen all year.

The veteran British new wave band recently embarked on an album-themed tour for the first time to celebrate the 35^th Anniversary of its most successful album, Reach the Beach.

Longtime Fixx enthusiasts should be thrilled to discover that there are two new studio albums (one of originals; another one, cover material) ready for release in the future.

Arriving in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. for a sold-out show, The Fixx emerged onstage wearing nautical-themed attire. Then the classic five-man lineup began doing Beach tracks in reverse running order.

Guitarist Jamie West-Oram punctuated the moody, hypnotic “Outside” with insistent stabs on a guitar sporting a Beach cover-painted pick guard. The venue’s screens on each side of the stage projected intriguing images, ranging from buzzwords and old newspaper clips to waves crashing onto a beach and news footage of former U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Singer Cy Curnin introduced the funky “Liner” by comparing concertgoers’ food and drink on the long Coach House tables to that of an ocean liner buffet. Rupert Greenall provided lush synth sounds for the title track and Curnin gave it a dramatic vocal delivery. “Opinions” was captivating, while an extended version of hit single “Saved by Zero” received a rousing response. The frontman’s between song banter was as thought-provoking as the songs themselves.

After the mysterious pull of “The Sign of Fire,” The Fixx concluded the 50-minute first set with a supercharged “One Thing Leads to Another,” containing plenty of dramatic Curnin gestures.

Back for an hour-long second set in changed clothes, the group offered up strong versions of several U.S. modern and mainstream rock radio hits: “Stand or Fall,” “Are We Ourselves?” (Curnin and Oram humorously mocked selfie culture), an intense “Deeper and Deeper,” still-relevant “Driven Out” (the vocalist played electric guitar and dedicated the song to Mother Earth), an intense “Deeper and Deeper” and electrifying main set closer “Red Skies,” that prompted several fans to dance around. The chugging “Less Cities, More Moving People” was also impressive.

photo: George A. Paul

Come encore time, the musicians returned with another pair of Fixx classics. Curnin said, “The Coach House never fails; this is what I call a party” before the eerie “Built for the Future.”

He admitted “at the ripe old age of 60, I’ve realized that love conquers all” and went into “Secret Separation.” All told, an excellent show from start to finish.

The Relatives started the evening’s proceedings with an impressive 45-minute set. Hailing from Orange, Calif., the power pop band formed in 1999. Since then, it has shared a stage with several top names in alternative rock, including Dramarama, Soul Asylum, Gin Blossoms, Stan Ridgway, Peter Case, Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers, The Smithereens and others.

Tilted World, The Relatives’ third and latest album on Slipped Disc Records, was among the best O.C. releases of 2015.

In Orange County, the band – now a four-piece with Mike Hamilton (Smithereens) on guitar and vocals – opened the impressive 45-minute set with a brawny take on The Plimsouls’ 1980 tune “How Long Will it Take?”

Lead guitarist David Ramirez did a tasty solo during “Is it Wrong,” the first of four selections from Tilted World, and received a hearty crowd response. The highly melodic “Beauty and Pain” featured passionate vocals by bassist Jason Arthur. Some chunky guitars and the stop/start rhythm on an insanely catchy “It’s Too Late” was a standout.

photo courtesy: Bruce Kilgour

Arthur dedicated their solid cover of The Smithereens’ “Behind the Wall of Sleep” to singer Pat DiNizio, who died last December. Ramirez really shined here. “21 Miles to Barstow” gave The Relatives a chance to show a somewhat harder-edged side reminiscent of Blue Oyster Cult. Another fine Plimsouls cover, the college/alt-rock radio hit “A Million Miles Away,” capped off the performance. I'd definitely recommend checking out a local Relatives show if you have the chance.

Upcoming SoCal concerts:
The Fixx at The Rose in Pasadena on July 26.
The Relatives at The Fifth in Anaheim on Aug. 26.

More information:
thefixx.com
therelatives.net