ITLM OTRS Presents: Erasure’s Andy Bell and the Ten Crowns Tour at Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C.

Oct 23, 2025 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

By: Raymond Burton Estes

Photos by: Fleurette Estes

Erasure’s Andy Bell brought his Ten Crowns Tour to the historic Lincoln Theatre on “Washington’s Black Broadway” in the U Street neighborhood of the Nation’s Capital, where he delivered a high-energy set comprised of songs from his latest solo album, Ten Crowns, along with all the Erasure hits. Theatrical hard rock maiden Savannah Pope opened the show with a short but powerful set of rock ’n’ roll bangers.

Savannah Pope walked onstage wearing a mysterious black cape while Adam Gimenez (guitar, synthesizer) handled the music. As she dropped her cape, it was as if a butterfly were emerging from its chrysalis and metamorphosing right before our eyes—unleashing her imposing yet enchanting persona upon the audience with her bright blonde curls, white Victorian-esque corset minidress, and vivid red platform shoes. Throughout her performance, Pope paced back and forth and, at one point, left the stage to walk through the crowd, drawing the audience into her performance while Gimenez held down both guitar and keyboard duties.

As I took in the show, I couldn’t help but think of her obvious influences—David Bowie, Queen, and Heart—but I also imagined that theater must have played a crucial role in the development of her style. Gimenez’s flashy playing only amplified the theatrical flair as he provided all the right embellishments. The crowd ate it up, and some even sucked on pacifiers that Pope tossed into the audience as she belted out the lyrics to “Daddy Issues.”

During their set, Pope encouraged the audience to connect with her by noting the following phone number—855-963-5013—and texting the word “Creature” to join her private fan community. I saw a few folks take it down and can only imagine Pope added new members that night. Another way to connect with her is through this link:

https://app.getpinpoint.io/iamsavannahpope.

Savannah Pope’s setlist:

Melancholic Goddess

Just My Luck

Freeway

Sick

Live Your Strange

Daddy Issues

Big Black Hole

Andy Bell’s Nashville-based touring band—Grammy Award-winning producer, remixer, and DJ Dave Audé (keyboards, programming), Jerry Fuentes (guitar), Sarah Tomek (drums), and Chelsea King-Blank (vocals)—opened the show playing “Breaking Thru the Interstellar,” setting the stage for Bell’s grand entrance. Dressed in a giant pink sequin outfit, he commanded attention and set the mood for the night. While the crowd showed their love for Bell’s opening number, they went wild when the band kicked into Erasure’s “Blue Savannah.”

Bell set the pace for the evening, hardly slowing down and all but challenging the crowd to keep up. His banter was friendly and inviting, showcasing his confident yet selfdeprecating demeanor. Before performing “Heart’s a Liar,” a duet he sang with Deborah Harry on his latest solo album, Bell introduced King-Blank and quipped that she’d be playing the role of Harry for the next song. The band and audience appreciated the big shoes she had to fill—but everyone knew she’d nail it and own it. Bell was gracious, praising his touring band members and giving them moments to shine. At the halfway mark, Bell stepped aside while the band performed Erasure’s “Breathe,” featuring Fuentes and King-Blank on vocals.

After a killer rendition of Electric Light Orchestra’s “Xanadu,” Bell spent a moment talking about their pre-show soundcheck and how the venue was built before PAs and microphones were needed—then launched into some operatic vocalisms. Later, he discussed astrology and his being a stubborn Taurus who enjoyed the finer things in life. Bell then joked about having a mood ring that never changed because he was such a miserable bastard all the time—prompting laughter from both him and the audience at his sardonic wit.

Bell and company ended their regular set with an inspirational rendition of Erasure’s “Oh l’amour” before leaving the stage. The crowd clearly hadn’t had their fill and screamed for Bell to return for an encore. Ever the showman, he obliged, delivering a heartfelt performance of “Thank You,” a somber love song for “all the people and friends that came along for the ride,” which the audience deeply appreciated. Of course, Bell closed the night on a high note with Erasure’s “A Little Respect.”

What a way to end the show! It was an incredible night for a couple of reasons. I loved hearing all of Erasure’s hits and never thought I’d get the chance to see them—whether as a band or solo artist—so I was grateful for this opportunity. But what truly made it a night to remember was seeing my wife, Fleurette Estes, singing and dancing while capturing some great photos. I knew she was an Erasure fan, but there’s nothing like a live performance to really move people. So thank you, Mr. Andy Bell, for a great night.

Andy Bell’s setlist:

Breaking Thru the Interstellar

Blue Savannah (Erasure cover)

Sometimes (Erasure cover)

Don’t Cha Know

Drama! (Erasure cover)

Heart’s a Liar

Chains of Love (Erasure cover)

Godspell

Love to Hate You (Erasure cover)

Breathe (Erasure cover)

Always (Erasure cover)