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As
a life-long Bowie fan I was looking forward to this concert...
| "Bowie,
frankly, looked a mess. The icon of style was dressed in kiddies'
jeans and a t-shirt tied together with red bits of cloth..." |
At
the souvenir stall I bought a programme, the only other things on
display were some tasteless T-shirts, a couple of badges and a mug.
The marketing people really went to town on this one!
The
show started with 'Rebel Rebel'. I never did like the song, but
this version seemed to lack the raw edge of the original and was
better for it.
Bowie,
frankly, looked a mess. The icon of style, who not so long ago was
wearing cool, mature suits, was dressed in kiddies' jeans and a
T-shirt tied together with red bits of cloth and a grotty, ill-fitting
tailcoat.
embarrassed
The
next track was 'New Killer Star', which was great. Bowie's voice
isn't necessarily getting better - despite his reputedly healthier
lifestyle - but he knows how to use the notes he can reach in place
of the ones he can't.
The
night continued with a superb 'Hello SpaceBoy' (more please), a
well-received 'Life on Mars' (not again!), 'Changes' - notable because
even Bowie looked embarrassed singing that one yet again - an audience
rousing 'All The Young Dudes' and rather indifferent renditions
of 'Sunday' and 'Bring Me The Disco King'.
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Let's
dance: Bowie's long-serving guitarist Earl Slick
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The
members of the band have been together quite a while now.
Mike
Garson still plonking away at the piano, the talented Gail Ann Dorsey,
who I fear will always be pidgeon-holed as 'BowieÂ’s bassist',
Earl Slick and Sterling Campbell - always outstanding and who I
suspect will depart the band for pastures new.
arrogance
As
the evening drew to a close, the encore had obviously been set up
as part of the show and when the audience genuinely enthused for
another, second encore...the stage crew simply walked on and cleared
the stage.
There
was an abruptness about that action. Almost arrogance.
To
sum up, like all the album releases since Outside, the performance
was mostly flat and lightweight.
Bowie
knows he's done his bit for popular music and now, like other ageing
rockers, he's just going through the motions.
Bowie
at Wembley: the case for - here>>
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