Synths Pop for The Human League’s Generations Tour at TD Amp Ballantyne
...with Soft Cell, Alison Moyet
It’s hard to believe it’s been 15 years since The Human League toured the United States. It’s even more difficult to think that the last time the band performed in Charlotte was 1998, when the Truliant Amphitheater was still known as Blockbuster Pavilion.
Yet here they were, 28 years later, performing at Charlotte’s largest independent outdoor amphitheater, TD Amp Ballantyne, on Saturday evening. The Generations Tour brought The Human League along with openers Alison Moyet and Soft Cell.
The Human League still sounded as synth and pop as ever, commanding the spotlight and getting the crowd on their feet to sing and dance along throughout their hour-plus set. Sure, their biggest hits were later in the night, but there’s something about those keyboards and electronic drumbeats that get people moving every time.
By the time Philip Oakley, Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall were singing “Human,” “(Keep Feeling) Fascination” and “Don’t You Want Me,” those in attendance were loving every minute of it.
The same could be said for the night’s opener, Soft Cell. While the crowd was interested, everyone was up, dancing and singing along to the group’s biggest hit, the nearly eight-minute-long “Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go.”
With new album Danceteria due to be released in September, Marc Almond is keeping the legacy of the band, and his bandmate/co-founder Dave Ball, in the hearts of fans. (Ball died in October 2025, shortly after the album was recorded.) The second song of the night was the album’s title track.
The second performer was Alison Moyet, who performed a set of her own music as well as songs from her band Yazoo. While the crowd was engaged with all of Moyet’s music, the songs “Situation” and “Don’t Go” got the biggest reaction of her set.
The Human League setlist
The Sound of the Crowd
Mirror Man
The Things That Dreams Are Made Of
Louise
Seconds
The Lebanon
One Man in My Heart
Human
Love Action
Tell Me When
(Keep Feeling) Fascination
Don’t You Want Me
The Human League Encore
Being Boiled
Together in Electric Dreams
Alison Moyet setlist
Footsteps
Nobody’s Diary
Changeling
It Won’t Be Long
Midnight
Only You
Winter Kills
Situation
Love Resurrection
Don’t Go
Soft Cell setlist
Memorabilia
Danceteria
A Man Could Get Lost
Torch
Loving You, Hating You
Nostalgia Machine
Bedsitter
Soul Inside
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go
Be sure to check out Queen City Nerve’s Soundwave, Charlotte’s most comprehensive live music listing, so you don’t miss out on any shows or concerts coming up. And hell, if you’re looking for something else to do, you can check out our events page as well, which runs the gamut of things to do in Charlotte. You don’t ever have to be bored again. You can check out more of Jeff’s pics and live reviews here.
