Review and Photos by Fred Kuhlman
Promoter: Danny Zelisko Presents (https://dzplive.com/ )
Venue: Walter Studio, Phoenix, AZ ( https://walterstudios.com/ )
Date: Tuesday September 23rd, 2025
Tour: North America Cushty Tour
Have you ever been at a show where you know very little about the band you are seeing? This happens to a lot to significant others. I usually like to acquaint myself with at least the headlining band. But for tonight’s show I only had a cursory introduction. So, in reality this band was a complete surprise for me.
EXTC is a reformed band of the original XTC band of the 70s. They are an English rock band that performs pop and art rock. During the 70s this was a small niche in the music sense. I found out that the last time XTC performed here in Phoenix area was in the 80s at the Arizona State Fair as the opening act for the Police. At that time, Danny Zelisko promoted them via his Evening Star company. So, it has been over 40 years since they were here. The strange thing was that a lot of the fans at tonight’s show said they were at that show.
Just like the Police, EXTC music is very upbeat and just fun to listen to. The fans were dancing and some were singing along with the band. Have you ever been at a concert and just felt really good and happy listening to the band perform? That was my reaction to tonight’s performance.
They did 2 sets with a short intermission (Band claimed for a bathroom break, their old). They performed 26 songs in total. I liked the show so much I purchased their CD of their “Live” performance. I am not going to cover the songs they performed; you can see the list at the end of the review. But here are a few songs that I thought were very good, “Ball and Chain”, “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead”, “Love on a Farmboy’s Wages” and “Life Begins at the Hop”.
The crowd was also very nice. People would move around, dance and no one seemed to care and actually moved or danced with each other. It was a general admission standing show, but no one seemed to care. It was nice to not be pushed and shoved or get nocked down by idiots in a mosh pit. It was just a fun show and the crowd loved it.
If you want to see a concert where you just feel good during the show and are happy when you leave, then this is a show to see. All of the songs were fun and the band’s performance was outstanding. They made jokes throughout the concert and sometimes even did a silly dance. Kind a think of a cross between The Beatles and Monty Pythom. I very highly recommend seeing EXTC. You will have a great time.
If you have never been to a concert at Walter Studio then you are missing a nice little venue. It is bigger than a bar, but not as large as the Van Buren. The venue is divided into 2 spaces, the concert room and the bar/restaurant. The stage is at the perfect height at about 3 ft. They also seem to have a nice sound system and a good lighting system. In the other part of the venue, they have the bar and a sitting area where you can relax and have some of the great food they serve.
EXTC Social Media sites:
Website: https://extc.band/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EXTCBand
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/extc.official_/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@extc.band1
Photos © Fred Kuhlman 2025, All Rights Reserved
EXTC Setlist:
Set 1:
This Is Pop
Statue of Liberty
Ball and Chain
No Language in Our Lungs
Love on a Farmboy’s Wages
Real by Reel
Towers of London
Paper and Iron
Senses Working Overtime
Jason and the Argonauts
Burning With Optimism’s Flames
The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
Set 2:
Summer’s Cauldron
Grass
King for a Day
The Mayor of Simpleton
No Thugs in Our House
Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)
Rocket From a Bottle
Respectable Street
Living Through Another Cuba
Generals and Majors
Making Plans for Nigel
Stupidly Happy
Life Begins at the Hop
