So China Crisis is back in Manila, probably for the third time in the past 15 years, to perform old, familiar songs that hark back to the heyday of New Wave music. Surprisingly, the British band has kept up with the times, having recorded a studio album as late as 2015.

But I must admit being aware of the group’s work only up to the “Flaunt the Imperfection” album, released 1985–a turbulent period in the Philippines, just two years after the Ninoy Aquino assassination, and a few months before the Edsa 1 People Power Revolt. I was in college during those years, listening to a lot of music on the radio and on cassette tape, in between following the news and attending anti-Marcos rallies.

China Crisis, whose songs I first heard on RJ-FM, struck a wonderful note because its music had a nice groove accompanying lyrics that somehow sounded complicated or full of irony like that of Steely Dan. Oh, yes, Steely Dan, my all-time favorite group, whose co-founder, Walter Becker, actually produced “Flaunt the Imperfection” (whose notable tracks include “The Highest High,” “Black Man Ray,” “King in a Catholic Style”) and even played percussion and synthesizer on the album.

Any Steely Dan fan can hear the influence of the trademark Becker-Donald Fagen sound in China Crisis–not just on “Flaunt…” but on its debut album, 1982’s “Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms” (“African and White,” “Christian”), and the follow-up, 1983’s “Working with Fire and Steel” (“Wishful Thinking,” “Tragedy and Mystery”).

What stoked my interest to watch this coming China Crisis concert are YouTube videos of original members Gary Daly and Eddie Lundon playing live and sounding none the worse for wear.

Good thing I’ve lost some weight in the past few weeks, the better for me to get up and dance at the gig.

China Crisis performs with Peter Coyle of Lotus Eaters on July 7, 8 p.m. at the Kia Theatre, General Malvar Ave. Araneta Center, Quezon City