By The Evening Chronicle

Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant received a rapturous homecoming welcome from a packed Newcastle City Hall last night.

Fans were treated to a set which mixed mid Eighties favourites through to Nineties anthems plus tracks from their new album.

As ever, Chris Lowe hovered in the back providing the technical musical wizardry we have come to know as the unique Pet Shop Boys sound.

Neil, meanwhile, was clearly in his element belting out classic hits while shuffling with gusto around the stage encouraging the crowd to sing.

Although the night was mainly about celebrating old hits and wallowing in nostalgia, fans were treated to five new tracks.

I Get Along, the current single, was an obvious favourite as was London, both delivered in a different style to the usual Pets Shop Boys hits.

Other tracks such as Love Is a Catastrophe and Birthday Boy also showed off the songwriting skills which Tennant and Lowe have possessed since the start, and which to this day stays fresh and modern.

The night was rounded of with versions of Where the Streets Have No Name and Domino Dancing.

As the night clearly proved the Pet Shop Boys have massive staying power and, following their performance to loyal North East fans, It's A Sin we don't see them here more often.

GARY BECKWITH