Simple Minds, Modern English, Soft Cell

The eternal popularity of Eighties hits “Alive and Kicking” and “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” means Scotland’s elegantly bombastic Simple Minds has maintained their lighter-waving popularity around the world. Nearly 50 years on, singer Jim Kerr, guitarist Charlie Burchill, and their comrades hit U.S. arenas for their most extensive North American tour in four decades. As displayed on superb new album Live in the City of Diamonds, Big Music standards like “Promised You a Miracle,” “Book of Brilliant Things,” and the peerless “Waterfront” still have the power to stir souls and lift hearts. – Michael Toland