Once a year, I do something that makes my inner teenager do a little happy dance. I surprise my best friend from childhood, Donatella, who now lives in Rome, because apparently some people need sun and pasta to survive – with gig tickets. She books her flight and together we relive the music that soundtracked our awkward teenage years, our first crushes, and our terrible haircuts.
We’ve done Depeche Mode (black clothes, serious faces, excellent synth). This year, we went full Yacht Rock. We went Christopher Cross.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Monica, the 80s soft?rock guy with the moustache and the acoustic guitar? The one who sings about sailing? Yes. That one. And let me tell you: he did not disappoint. Not even a little bit.
The setting was the London Palladium – all red velvet, gold leaf, and the kind of chandeliers that make you feel like you should be sipping champagne even if you’re just holding a warm plastic cup of Sauvignon Blanc. It’s the sort of venue where you half?expect a pantomime dame to appear, but instead, we got five Grammy awards’ worth of pristine, polished, California soft?rock.
The crowd: mature, enthusiastic, and definitely not on TikTok
Let’s address the elephant in the room. The audience was… how shall I put this? Seasoned. We saw a lot of grey hair, a lot of comfortable shoes, and a lot of people who clearly remembered buying Sailing on vinyl. Donatella and I genuinely lowered the average age in the room by a noticeable margin. At one point, a lovely gentleman behind us asked if we were “here with our parents.” I nearly cried. Then I nearly hugged him. Then I decided to take it as a compliment.
But you know what? That audience knew their music. They cheered for deep cuts. They sang along to every word of Arthur’s Theme like it was the national anthem. And when Christopher Cross walked on stage – trim, smiling, and still wearing that signature moustache – the place erupted.
The voice: still sailing after all these years
Here’s the thing about Christopher Cross. He’s 74 now. Some artists at that age sound like they’ve been gargling gravel. Not this man. His voice was fantastic – clear, warm, and almost unchanged from the 1980s. If you closed your eyes, you could have been listening to the radio in 1981, except your hair would have been bigger and you wouldn’t have a phone in your hand.
He opened with All Right – a perfect, breezy start that set the tone for the evening. Then came Never Be the Same, I Really Don’t Know Anymore, and Alibi. By the time he hit Sailing (yes, that song), the entire Palladium was swaying. I saw grown men wipe their eyes. I saw women clutch their hearts. I saw my best friend mouth the words “it’s not far down to paradise” with the same intensity she used to have when revising for her A-levels.
The setlist: hits, deep cuts, and one glorious guitar solo
Christopher Cross gave us a 16-song journey through his catalogue. He balanced the massive radio hits with the tracks that true fans scream for. Here’s what we got (and yes, I wrote it down because I am that person):
Main set:
- All Right
- Never Be the Same
- I Really Don’t Know Anymore
- Alibi
- Dreamers
- Deputy Dan
- Sailing
- Walking in Avalon (acoustic)
- Say You’ll Be Mine (acoustic)
- Minstrel Gigolo (acoustic)
- The Light Is On
- Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)
- No Time for Talk
- Ride Like the Wind
Encore:
- Think of Laura
Highlight moment: Think of Laura was the encore, and it came with a brilliant, extended guitar solo that absolutely soared. I didn’t expect to be moved by a song that was originally written for a soap opera character (yes, really – General Hospital fans, I see you). But there I was, holding my friend’s hand, swaying like a buoy in a gentle swell.
And Ride Like the Wind? Still a banger. Still makes you want to drive too fast (don’t). Still features those soaring backing vocals that sound like angels on a freeway.
The support act: Chris Difford – witty, warm, and wonderfully British
Before Cross took the stage, we were treated to an opening set by Chris Difford – co-founder of Squeeze, and a man who knows how to tell a story. He came out with just an acoustic guitar and a twinkle in his eye. His songs were witty, his banter was warm, and his delivery was so distinctly British that it provided the perfect contrast to Cross’s smooth West Coast vibe.
He played a handful of Squeeze classics and some solo material, and by the end, the crowd was putty in his hands. A lovely, unexpected treat.
The verdict: do I recommend it? Absolutely. Even if you’re the youngest person in the room.
This wasn’t just a gig. It was a time machine. For two hours, my best friend Donatella and I weren’t frazzled mums with school runs and laundry mountains. We were teenagers again, lying on her bedroom floor, listening to cassettes, dreaming about the future.
Christopher Cross delivered a night of polished, emotional nostalgia. His voice is still magnificent. His band was tight. The Palladium was stunning. And the shared experience of an audience that loved every note – even if they needed a sit down afterwards – was genuinely moving.
Would I go again? In a heartbeat. And next year, I’m already plotting our next annual gig. (Suggestions welcome. No mosh pits. My knees aren’t what they used to be.)
Rating: 5/5 stars
Monica Costa founded London Mums in September 2006 after her son Diego’s birth together with a group of mothers who felt the need of meeting up regularly to share the challenges and joys of motherhood in metropolitan and multicultural London. London Mums is the FREE and independent peer support group for mums and mumpreneurs based in London https://www.londonmumsmagazine.com and you can connect on Twitter @londonmums
