Dancing Through Decades with OMD at ACL Live

Jun 4

Dancing Through Decades with OMD at ACL Live

On June 3, 2025, ACL Live at the Moody Theater pulsed with synth lines and nostalgia as Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark delivered a set that was as forward-charged as it was timeless. For many in the crowd, including me, this wasn’t just another concert. It was a dream realized.

I was twelve when I first got my hands on The Best of OMD. Every track felt like heaven. I fell in love instantly. Over the years, that admiration deepened as I explored the emotional corners of their catalog, from the obvious hits to the under-the-radar gems. Seeing them live for the first time wasn’t just surreal, it was transformative.

OMD opened the evening with “Evolution/Anthropology,” a cerebral yet propulsive start that immediately reminded us why their work always felt a step ahead of its time. “Messages” and “Tesla Girls” followed, injecting the crowd with kinetic energy, and from there, it was a beautifully curated journey through decades of brilliant songwriting.

Tracks like “If You Leave” and “Souvenir” were met with waves of cheers, their emotional pull undiminished by time. “Joan of Arc” and “Maid of Orleans” were delivered back to back, each swelling with drama, anchored by Paul Humphreys’ haunting melodies and Andy McCluskey’s theatrical presence.

McCluskey, still charismatic, still leaping across the stage like a man half his age, held the crowd in the palm of his hand. It’s worth noting he recently underwent knee replacement surgery, a fact that made his performance all the more remarkable. His energy was boundless, his movement agile and infectious. Whether belting out the politically sharp “Kleptocracy” or spinning into the hypnotic “Forever (Live and Die),” his spirit never wavered.

The back third of the set was pure celebration. “Locomotion,” “So in Love,” and “Enola Gay” turned the room into a dance floor. And when the encore began with “Look at You Now,” the moment swelled with warmth. By the time they closed with “Electricity,” the theater was alight with joy, everyone dancing, singing, reliving.

This wasn’t just a performance. It was a reaffirmation. OMD’s music doesn’t live in the past. It lives in us. In the way a song can transport you, hold you, and remind you of the precious memories woven throughout our lives. For a kid who once clutched that greatest hits CD like it was sacred, this night was everything.

Enjoy some of the images from the evening in the gallery set below.