Midge Ure at Martyrs’

It’s a rare event that’s happening in Chicago tonight in the Lincoln Square area of town. A dream that, for many, is about to come true. That dream is hearing the legendary singer, Midge Ure, sing his heart out. For those not initiated, Midge Ure is the former singer of the classic 1980’s synth group, Ultravox, along with other classic acts such as Visage and Thin Lizzy.

The show begins on time, with a man, dressed head to toe in black taking the stage, along with his two band mates. Hardly a rockstar entry, but let that not deter you! Midge begins his set with the song ‘Dear God,’ a fitting choice for gathering the audience’s attention.

When the first song ends, Midge waists no time in getting the crowd to laugh. He’s quite the comedian, really. One of the most notable quotes the Kilter Magazine team recalls hearing was the following:

 ‘It’s really funny, how we in the band, Ultravox, went for, being labeled as the New Romantics, to being old romantics,’ with him gesturing at himself and his shaved head, a whimsical smirk on his face.

The show proceeds on, with each song getting richer in melody; you can tell that Midge is really into this, what with his smiling face and gregarious personality. ‘Beneath Spielberg skies’ is a prime example. Kilter Magazine learned that that inspiration behind that song was taken from the ominous dark skies that congregated the setting of most of Ultravox videos in the ’80’s.

It doesn’t seem like more than a minute, but the show has come to an end. We in audience realize this when Midge starts with a single guitar solo, for a song that sounds all too familiar, and yet, none of us in the crowd are fully certain; is it this song, or another? Midge teases us a minute longer, before the other two band mates chime in and the group gives us one of the most iconic songs from Midge’s time in Ultravox, the song being ‘Dancing with tears in my eyes.’ Midge bellows out with full range, pure and raw emotion seeping out, causing spines to tingle and heartbeats to increase. It’s a pure moment of romanticism, for sure, and the audience is singing along.

And with that, a most iconic evening in Chicago’s music scene. Thank you, Mr Ure!