Went last night. A mixed bag…
On the plus side: 3 hours, awesome band (Garson, Slick, Belew, GAD etc), lots of tunes
On the minus: seemed under-rehearsed and often below-par sound but mainly the ‘special guests’ – Vocals were done by the band (Adrian Belew came off like someone’s dad down the pub) or such mega-stars as….Tony Hadley, Tom Chaplin, Mr Hudson, Simon Le Bon, Joe Elliott.
Still a good night – spine tingling to watch Garson play Aladdin Sane etc – but why could they not get anyone better??? It’s Bowie ferchrissakes….
Was it fun and dancey? Or downbeat and respectful — or some combination?
How was the sound ? I’ve heard variations from ‘not the best’ to ‘fucking shocking Mr Oldman!’
At times bad – heretically so when Mike Garson was drowned out by sax – but not too bad from my position central in circle. Some vocals totally lost and lack of announcements but some sounded good – bizarrely bloke from Fishbone doing Moonage Daydream
Mainly the former – the intention to make it a Celebration worked
The setlist was
‘Dead Man Walking’ – Gary Oldman
‘Rebel Rebel’ – Bernard Fowler
‘Sorrow’ – Gary Oldman and Joe Sumner
‘Five Years’ – Gaby Moreno
‘Golden Years’ – La Roux
‘Lady Grinning Soul’ – Holly Palmer
‘The Man Who Sold The World’ – Jeremy Little and Gary Oldman
‘Diamond Dogs’ – Bernard Fowler
‘Life On Mars’ – Tom Chaplin
‘Wild Is The Wind’ – Gaby Moreno
‘Young Americans’ – Gail Ann Dorsey & The London Community Gospel Choir
‘Ashes To Ashes’ – Angelo Moore
‘Win’ – Bernard Fowler & The London Community Gospel Choir
‘All The Young Dudes’ – Joe Elliot & The London Community Gospel Choir
‘Fame’ – Adrian Belew
‘Fashion’ – Alex Painter
‘Sound And Vision’ – Adrian Belew
‘Changes’ – Tony Hadley
‘Rock And Roll Suicide’ – Bernard Fowler
‘Where Are We Now’ – Holly Palmer
‘Stay’ – Bernard Fowler
‘Aladdin Sane’ – Gail Ann Dorsey
‘Space Oddity’ – Gain Ann Dorsey
‘Starman’ – Mr Hudson
‘D.J.’/’Boys Keep Swining’ – Adrian Belew
‘Ziggy Stardust’ – Angelo Moore
‘Moonage Daydream’ – Angelo Moore
‘Suffragette City’ – Joe Elliot
‘Heroes’ – Bernard Fowler
ENCORE:
‘Loving The Alien’ – Catherine Russell
Jean Genie – ‘Bernard Fowler
‘Let’s Dance’ – Simon Le Bon & The London Community Gospel Choir
‘Under Pressure’ – Joe Sumner, Catherine Russell & The London Community Gospel Choir
Read more at http://www.nme.com/news/music/david-bowies-old-band-gary-oldman-la-roux-simon-le-bon-play-hit-packed-brixton-show-mark-birthday-1940250#T6Y8iyuIf2P8MCRd.99
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jan/09/celebrating-david-bowie-review-brixton-academy-la-roux-gary-oldman
if you left after jean Genie, that would have been all right. Loo break during Tony Hadley and Simon leBon, vile wannabes that they were/ are. Just surprised Jim Kerr didn’t try to muscle-in.
Under-rehearsed, according to Garson:
http://www.mikegarson.com/bowie_CdB-BrixtonHighlights17.html
Interesting footage on his site
http://www.mikegarson.com/bowie_outsiderehearsal.html
Hmm. Much more fun might be the Visconti and Woodmansey show doing Ziggy as they are promising. Someone reviewed their Man Who Fell to Earth here quite positively, I seem to recall. Fab interview with the U-boat captain on saturdays Liz Kershaw show on R6: he came across a balanced and witty dude.
It was me, and it was TMWSTW. “Quite positive” would be an understatement 😉
I have tickets for the opening ‘Ziggy’ show in Hull…cannot wait.
Oops, I did mean that, got distracted when typing.
I did do the Station To Station Earl Slick tour – this was the same with a bigger cast. Think i’m done with tributes.
It’s about time Adrian Belew did something about his hair, or what’s left of it.
This must be his third bad hair decade now. Get a hat or something, FFS.
Alittle Joe Zawinul/Monk style of thing wouldn’t look too bad on him. He has too spuddy a face to go shaven-headed.
Mike Garson’s collection of clips showed several moments I’d have been happy to have been there for.
And one or two I wouldn’t have been sad to miss.
Earl Slick could do with a crew cut too. Instead he’s gone for the Johnny Marr/John Cooper Carke stylee.
Cooper Carke, love it! Can this now be official AW like HJHMs and vinly, please?
At least Earl has what looks to be a full head of hair. Unless he’s been rugged-up.
Whilst Mike doing Aladdin Sane was fantastic …I think I’ll stay with the recordings when it comes to Earl’s work on Stay
Adrian certainly cut a strange front-man figure. Missed his guitar cues a few times too.
Very fair review
http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/live/an-emotional-but-uneven-celebration-of-david-bowie-takes-place-in-brixton/