Live Review: Culture Club, The Human League, Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins), Hoseah Partsch

Love them or hate them, when Boy George gets involved in a reality show he goes whole hog.

So inviting 18-year-old The Voice protege Hoseah Partsch to perform at his piano is a welcome follow through on commitment. His covers of Ariana Grande, Bob Marley and Whitney Houston songs were met with a very generous twinkling of mobile phone spotlights but an unintentional hilarious highlight was his enquiry of anyone being an Eagles fan. The cheers and smattering of boos were clearly meant for the West Coast team as he innocently launched into a cover of the 'other' Eagles Love Will Keep Us Alive.

The Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey confidently strode on stage with a three-piece backing band, all dressed in dazzling white. Like watching a non-evil overlord of an '80s synth-pop cult, Bailey delighted in ending his 20-year live hiatus returning to the likes of You Take Me Up, Lies and Doctor! Doctor! Some dodgy sound mixing dominoed onto some increasingly out of key singing and ex-wife Alannah Curries' kookiness was sorely missed from Lay Your Hands On Me but for this reviewers' money, this was a thrilling reboot which will hopefully lead to more.

The Human League's Phil Oakey, Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley vamped on stage to the chugging riff of Love Action (I Believe In Love). There's always been more going on under the surface of the League than fashion and waitresses in cocktail bars may have you believe as The Sound Of The Crowd and the lyrical horror of The Lebanon ably showcase. Tell Me When and Mirror Man were glorious but Together In Electric Dreams (Oakey's timeless collaboration with Giorgio Moroder) imploded Perth Arena before the first word even reached his microphone, but inevitable closer Don't You Want Me (greatest pop song of the '80's : discuss!) made the crowd go even more bonkers. Forty-five minutes just wasn't enough.

In an historic week which has seen Marriage Equality become law, it was a joy to celebrate in the company of one of pop's defining gay icons. Surprisingly, no mention was made of it, but new(ish) song Bitch Face made for a regal arrival of Culture Club. All four original members (Boy George, Mikey Craig, Roy Hay and Jon Moss) still look more fabulous than ever despite the legendarily hedonistic decades that have passed. Another The Voice alumnus, Perth girl Chelsea J Gibson brought her harmonica for Church Of The Poison Mind and the terrific run of It's A Miracle, I'll Tumble 4 Ya and Time (Clock Of The Heart) was pure pop felicity.

Sly Stone tribute Different Man from the long-gestating new album Tribes ends with lashings of gospel and 2014 single More Than Silence was a bigger, deeper American rock sound for the band. No shock to hear an impeccably executed Karma Chameleon (with Chelsea back on harmonica) erupt the arena but it is chased by even bigger tributes to Prince (Purple Rain) and T Rex (Get It On), bringing Bailey and Partsch back on stage (but not The Human League) for a pumping end of nostalgic jubilation. '80s sentimentality may be so hot right now, but tonight all acts delivered lasting smiles.