UK post-punk band The Chameleons live at the Observatory Orange County

The Chameleons

The Chameleons took to the stage at the OC Observatory in Santa Ana to an expectant crowd of middle aged indie diehards. The Smiths, New Order, Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses, Oasis, The Fall and The Chameleons are all Manchester bands, whilst the former kind of slipped into obscurity after their debut album Script of the Bridge in 1983. Perhaps the word obscurity is unfair, as many bands - Interpol, The National, The Verve ad Slowdive - have all cited The Chameleons as a major influence.

Lead singer Mark Burgess guided the band through a good set of post punk meets indie which was atmospheric and polished. The older crowd were transfixed and clearly happy at having such an under the radar yet revered outfit jangling their guitars right here in Orange County. They might not have had quite the same commercial success as some of their fellow Manchester bands, but they clearly have a loyal cult following.

SETLIST

• Where Are You?

• The Fan and the Bellows

• Pleasure and Pain

• Lady Strange

• Perfume Garden

• Looking Inwardly

• Paradiso

• David Bowie Takes My Hand

• Saviours Are a Dangerous Thing

• Soul in Isolation

• Swamp Thing

• Feels Like the End of the World

Encore:

• In Shreds

• Second Skin

• Don't Fall

Coverage by Martin Worster // Instagram: @martinworsterphotography

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