Many people may be quick to write off Duran Duran these days. One by one the original members are departing, while record sales seem to be dropping off.
It comes as a welcome surprise, then, to find that amidst these drawbacks, Duran can still kick out the jams like the new breed of bands nipping at their shoes. The show last night at the Warehouse drew a near capacity crowd that was left wanting more... literally (the chant of "Reflex, Reflex" was still audible as the lights came up).
The evening started off with a pitiful performance from Montreal's Ivan (ex of Men Without Hats, now just Man Without Voice), but very quickly picked up as one by one the members of Duran Duran and touring ensemble made their way to the stage.
Duran Duran's set opened with Medazzaland, the title track from the band's latest album. On stage, Warren Cuccurullo wailed guitar licks over keyboardist Nick Rhodes' posing and newspaper reading. Occasionally, Rhodes murmured the lyrics, including "Into Medazzaland", into the microphone.
Upon lead singer Simon LeBon's stage entrance at the start of Big Bang Generation, the night got off to a rousing start. While he may be closing in on 40, LeBon showed his stuff with struts and gyrations that would put a 20 year old to shame.
The night wore on through single versions of previous big hits (Hungry Like The Wolf, A View To A Kill), as was promised by LeBon in a recent interview. Occasionally, a new track from Medazzaland (Be My Icon, Who Do You Think You Are) was thrown in, slightly reworked for the live arena.
A poignant moment took place half way through when LeBon introduced Save A Prayer and dedicated it to friend Michael Hutchence, the singer for INXS who killed himself last month. LeBon was best man at the wedding of Bob Geldof and Hutchence's girlfriend Paula Yates. The run through was an impassioned and emotional version. LeBon's voice carried strongly through the lighter-filled crowd.
The evening's high point for any long term fan was the inclusion of four tracks from the band's 1981 self-titled debut. LeBon seemed energetic and alert running through Anyone Out There? Similarly, Friends of Mine, which was introduced by a speech espousing fallen Birmingham night club Rum Runner (where the band was formed), found LeBon straining to stand still and failing badly. The other two tracks from the 1981 album, Careless Memories and Girls on Film, were better known by the audience and illicited a more animated reaction.
One of the lines from Friends of Mine seems very apt not only for the band, but for most of the audience who were enjoying hearing this and Anyone Out There? performed for the first time in over a decade. As LeBon sang, "I think it's time that you were told/I think you're growing old", it hit home just how much of a history this band has amassed and just how many good songs have not been performed live in a while.
The final blast-from-the-past, Secret Oktober, was originally the b-side to Union of the Snake back in October 1983. The version performed at the Warehouse last night was testimony undeniable as to the chameleon ability of this band. The b-side, a straight forward pop number, but always a fan favourite was transformed into an trance-laced ambient extravaganza. This re-version gets my vote for song reworking of the year, and I can only hope that Secret Oktober '97 makes its way onto a release in the near future.
As the strains of a crowd-enhanced Rio faded out of the speakers, the show ended. With LeBon's cry of 'don't forget about us, because we won't forget you', the hopes of a spring show loomed large among the audience.
A fan on the way out perfectly summed up the night, 'U2 may have rocked, but musically this show kicked a**'.
Set List
Medazzaland
Big Bang Generation
Hungry Like The Wolf
Who Do You Think You Are
Electric Barbarella
A View To A Kill
Out of My Mind
Save A Prayer
(Is There) Anyone Out There?
Be My Icon
Buried in the Sand
Come Undone
Friends of Mine
Careless Memories
Girls on Film
Encore
Secret Oktober
Ordinary World
Rio
JAM! Rating: 4.5 out of 5
