Our dreams for Obscure after the 5 shows at EB

[Morse]

I'm just absolutely over the moon they've finally performed Bet She's Not Your Girlfriend live for the first time.

Would absolutely love a live cd/dvd or a mixture of all of the nights so we get all of the tracks performed.

[le petit corbusier]

They should embrace the no hits way and do, at least, a proper audio recording and I hope they have already been recording this whole week. Those videos of Neil talking and joking are pure gold. Maybe it's hard to sort the guests rights for a commercial release?

[VRIDD]

Obscure BERLIN

[Drico One]

Obscure BERLIN

I can’t see it - not when they are hoping to sell 20,000 tickets here in July.

And frankly, I think they should just leave it at the five nights for superfans. I have no interest in any of their live albums. They’d be far better advised to release a new EP with, say, I dream of a better tomorrow, and other Neil-led songs from Naked, which won’t see the light of day soon anyway, and perhaps tart up some of the live performances this week for inclusion as future bonus tracks.

In other words, let’s go back to what they always did best: looking forward and releasing new music.

Drico.

[Gabby]

I'm with Drico to some extent on this. Live albums aren't really my bag, but am frustrated that you really needed to be at all 5 nights to see everything they've done this time (which I think is unfair to people who can only go one or even no nights - we don't all have that level of privilege).

There are some good YouTube videos out there which should sate most appetites I reckon.

As much as this was very much a retrospective of the past (like Dreamworld) it didn't feel particularly like an exercise in navel gazing, and more a celebration of "hits" that simply don't fit the Dreamworld mold.

But, leave it where it is and don't take it further - lets move forward with some new stuff (I'd be happy to see that back of Dreamworld too frankly).

[le petit corbusier]

You know, on one hand you all might be right in that recording these concerts might diminish the aura. But, at the same time, we have all these live CDs and dvds of many of the same songs being played again and again. And just as they compile their b sides as a recognition of that obscure musics strength, I feel a live recording is equally deserved. PSB are much more than the hits, and this week we have seen some great renditions of lesser known masterpieces.

[ChoonHound]

I mean.. they’re playing versions faithful to the original recordings… what are you going to get out of a live recording other than a substandard version and maybe some background noise?

[rashomon]

Yeah agree Gabby - these 5 nights all easily sold out in London and it feels to me we are now in a natural place for the shows to end. I was initially not happy with the Ballroom as a choice as it's standing only but in retrospect I think both the venue and number of nights was spot on - anything more would have possibly diluted the magic of these special shows.

Still amazed we even got this tour at all to be honest - the happy timing of the 40 year anniversary of Please and the huge success of Dreamworld as a counter to the obscure tracks has probably played a massive part in making this happen.

Also, although it was a look back to songs from the past, the boys decision to end each night with a song from a future project is very fitting and very Pet Shop Boys.

[drunk14]

I wouldn’t want Obscure to turn into anything more than these five exceptional concerts — even if, reading your opinions and looking at each night individually, I get the feeling I somehow ended up with the worst possible one. Haha.

No additional shows, at least for the next few years, would honestly be a sign of respect to those who had to fight tooth and nail to get their tickets.

[markreed]

They're recording all the shows, so a live album seems a very wise move - especially with all the songs across the residency that have barely been played live before.

[Sandy Shaw]

Thanks so far.
I'm having mixed feelings about this. 5 shows and done is neat and ties it all up, but "Obscure" itself is now a brand and there's scope for more of course.

[ubik]

No additional shows, at least for the next few years, would honestly be a sign of respect to those who had to fight tooth and nail to get their tickets.

I think it would also be a sign of respect to hold additional concerts for fans who couldn't afford the trip to London, didn't get tickets, or couldn't attend for other reasons. A obscure event in Berlin would certainly be worthwhile – I'm sure 1,500+ tickets could be sold there as well (Continental-PSB ultras), even if a concert were scheduled for the following evening at the Uber Arena (ultras and casuals). It won't happen – at least not in '26.

[ChoonHound]

No additional shows, at least for the next few years, would honestly be a sign of respect to those who had to fight tooth and nail to get their tickets.

Gatekeeping: the process of controlling, limiting, or filtering access to information, power, or a specific community. It acts as a "gateway" where an individual or entity decides who or what is allowed in and what remains outside.

[markreed]

No additional shows, at least for the next few years, would honestly be a sign of respect to those who had to fight tooth and nail to get their tickets.

Gatekeeping: the process of controlling, limiting, or filtering access to information, power, or a specific community. It acts as a "gateway" where an individual or entity decides who or what is allowed in and what remains outside.

Economics is also a factor : the Electric is 1/10th the size of their average venues these days. They probably wouldn't be able to make the show portable/tourable and profitable unless they reconfigured the set to half OBSCURE / half DREAMWORLD so they can play venues maybe 5,000 capacity. They could do a 'No Repeats' 2-show set in the same venue with an hour of each split over 2 nights.

[rashomon]

They're recording all the shows, so a live album seems a very wise move - especially with all the songs across the residency that have barely been played live before.

Is it confirmed somewhere that they are recording the shows?