What a treat. Sophistipop greats Haircut One Hundred wrapped up their tour with Howard Jones earlier this week and before jetting back to England they stopped in NYC to play their first show in the city in over 40 years. Unlike the rest of the tour, they got to play a full set, which meant we got all of their 1982 debut album, Pelican West. Original members Nick Heyward, bassist Les Nemes and guitarist Graham Jones were in high spirits, as were the rest of their seven-piece band that included a bongo-crazy percussionist and horn section. (Drummer Blair Cunningham didn’t make the trip this time, but his fill-in was terrific). The crowd was a nice mix, ranging from people who actually saw the band’s last NYC show to a large contingent of young people who were outpacing most of their elders in the dancing department.
And there was lots to dance to. Haircut One Hundred’s mix of disco, funk, and tropical pop has aged very well, and with all the horns and the bongos, “Love’s Got Me In Triangles,” “Lemon Fire Brigade,” and “Fantastic Day” all sounded, well, fantastic. Pelican West is their only album to date (I don’t count 1984’s Paint and Paint, made without Heyward) but they told the crowd they’d put the finishing touches on their new album, which will be out early next year, and played their new single “Dynamite” and last year’s “The Unloving Plum” from it, which fit in seamlessly with the rest of the set. I’m less sure about their cover of War’s “Low Rider,” which was fun but unnecessary. Here would’ve been a great place to break out super-funky b-side “Boat Party.”
The show ended with their two biggest and best songs: the marimba and sax-fueled “Love Plus One” (their only US hit) and “Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl),” which closed things in a sweaty 10-minute blast of tropical funk. Heyward is remarkably well preserved, looking and sounding just like he did in 1982 (but with glasses now), and he can still rock the white jeans and Hawaiian shirt. The only thing missing were the sweaters. This may never happen again and I’m very glad I got to see it.
Check out Haircut One Hundred’s setlist and full video of the Sony Hall show below.
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SETLIST: Haircut One Hundred @ Sony Hall 9/24/2025
Kingsize (You’re My Little Steam Whistle)
Nobody’s Fool
Love’s Got Me in Triangles
Dynamite
The Unloving Plum
Snow Girl
Milk Film
Surprise Me Again
Marine Boy
Lemon Firebrigade
Calling Captain Autumn
Low Rider (War cover)
Fantastic Day
Love Plus One
Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)