Pop Reviews : Hapless Comeback From Boy George

If it hadn’t been Boy George on stage at the Mayan Theatre for the midnight show Wednesday, many patrons might have started demanding their money back. That’s because they probably wouldn’t have tolerated a show so hapless from anyone else.

But these fans were curious about the latest comeback by the intriguing British pop-soul singer who was one of the world’s hottest celebrities as the leader of Culture Club in the ‘80s--until heroin addiction derailed his career.

George, whose ‘80s hits included “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” and “Karma Chameleon,”brought a disco act to the Mayan, but it was a shoddy one. The show--marred by sound problems--began with music from George’s latest album (“The Marty Mantras”), which mixes mostly foot-stomping dance tunes with Hare Krishna messages.

George, whose vocals at the Mayan were often either off-key or too low-key, was accompanied by four musicians, though much of the ear-splitting instrumental music appeared to be coming from pre-recorded tracks.

For a dance-club show, the set dragged horribly in the second half as George--who has given up gender-bending outfits in favor of the flower-laden Hare Krishna look--sang mostly ballads and tried out new material. Even one of his big hits from the Culture Club days,”Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” was transformed into a dreary post-modern disco number.