THIS is the most commercial set Marc Almond has played in years, marking both his imminent 60th birthday on July 9 and his new career retrospective double album, Hits And Pieces.

A little fuller of figure than in his synth nymph days in Leeds electro-pop double act Soft Cell, Marc is all in black, loose-fitting shirt with de riguer tattoos on his arms and neck, as he enters in a haze of red. Ah, black and red, his old faves, it’s going to be a good night, even if “support act” The Flicks, a gaggle of hen-party renegades, half cartoon Spice Girls, half The Go-Go’s gone gone, had set the gig off on a flat note with their “We’re rock’n’roll bitches with a big personality” braggadocio. Er, right, of course you are.

In one of only five shows on his anniversary tour – oh, lucky York – Almond lived up to the promise to play “all the hits”, with a band of trusty Neal X on guitar and quiff, Soft Cell-era synths, and drums, backed by video projections of Marc past and present.

If you wanted his covers, from Soft Cell’s What and Tainted Love, he did them, and did them in 12-inch mode, What taken to its drama-queen max, Tainted Love segued into Where Did Our Love Go.

If you craved Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart, The Days Of Pearly Spencer and Scott Walker’s Jacky, of course, darling, they came to the cabaret.

If you loved Soft Cell’s Torch, Bedsitter, Where The Heart Is, Soul Inside and especially Down In The Subway, how could he resist.

As for solo Marc, Tears Run Rings, Adored And Explored, Child Star, Scar and the fabulous new Northern Soul pastiche, A Kind Of Love, he explored, and we adored. Just like when he knocked his microphone from his hand, as he conducted our Almond Choir singing. “It’s a sign,” he said.

No, no-one sings quite like Marc Almond. Theatrical to the last, he closed with “my anthem”, Say Hello, Wave Goodbye. Exit, clutching flowers, the showman, reluctantly waving goodbye.