Words by Clinton Camper

Time travel isn’t real, but don’t tell OMD that.

On Tuesday night at ACL Live, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark turned the Moody Theater into a synth-powered time machine, gliding through decades of electronic pop with the precision of pioneers who never lost the spark. From the first pulsing notes of “Anthropocene,” it was clear: OMD didn’t come to coast—they came to electrify.

Andy McCluskey, at 65, moves with the energy of someone half his age, strutting, spinning, and belting like it’s still 1983. Paul Humphreys, ever the cool counterpart, anchored the night with smooth vocals and synth wizardry. Together, their chemistry remains magnetic.

The set was a masterclass in synthpop history. Fan favorites like “Tesla Girls,” “Souvenir,” and “(Forever) Live and Die” brought the nostalgia, while deeper cuts like “Veruschka” and “Kleptocracy” kept longtime fans on their toes. And yes, when “If You Leave” hit, the entire room collectively time-warped to a John Hughes dream sequence.

But the real emotional peak? That one-two punch of “Joan of Arc” into “Maid of Orleans,” complete with cathedral synths and marching snares—pure drama, pure OMD.

By the time “Enola Gay” closed the main set and the encore kicked off with “Look at You Now,” the crowd was fully locked in. And when they ended with their debut single “Electricity,” it wasn’t just a song—it was a mission statement. After all these years, OMD still runs on high voltage.