An emotional but uneven celebration of David Bowie takes place in Brixton
Bandmates and guests vocalist remember the legendary artist in London
Last night saw the Brixton Academy play host to a house band that featured a group of musicians that had one thing in common – at some point in their lives they played regularly with David Bowie.
Amongst them was pianist Mike Garson who first hit the road with Bowie way back on the Ziggy Stardust tour; guitarist Earl Slick who played on the Diamond Dogs tour and contributed to the Young Americans and Station To Station albums, Adrian Belew who toured with Bowie in 1978 and worked on Lodger; Gail Ann Dorsey, a stalwart in Bowie’s band from 1995 onwards and Gerry Leonard who worked on Heathen, Reality and The Next Day and was musical director of the Reality Tour.
The excitement at this sold-out event was evident by the enormous queue outside the venue that wrapped itself round the block as early as 6.30pm (I’ve never seen anything like it). Ticket holders were clearly keen to get in and get a prime position. Few people knew who the ‘special guests’ would be and it’s not often you go to a gig where you’re really not too sure what to expect (other than the music of David Bowie, of course).
What followed was more or less a Bowie greatest hits set with numerous changes to the makeup of each band (there were three drummers, for example). Often the singer who had just sung lead vocals would step back and help out on backing vocals for the next track. This included a certain Mr Gary Oldman!
La Roux struggled with Golden Years
Inevitably, with an event of this nature – three hours of performance, multiple guest vocalists and limited three-day rehearsal – not everything went according to plan. La Roux looked the part, but kept missing her cues for Golden Years and eventually just gave up and boogied her way silently though the second half of the song! Gail Ann Dorsey virtually inaudible and subsequently was drowned out by the backing singers during Young Americans and ‘Stones backing singer Bernard Fowler (who was given loads of songs to sing and who we christened Bernard ‘not him again’ Fowler) was solid enough during the straightforward rock ‘n’ roll of Diamond Dogs but less convincing when taking on Stay and particularly Heroes, which was rather disappointing.
I can’t speak for others, but if I was in any way representative of the core audience (fairly likely) then it often wasn’t really clear exactly who the ‘new’ guest singer was that was coming on to sing the next song. Excuse me for not knowing what Mr Hudson looks like (the only reason I know who he actually is because I bought last Duran Duran album) but some introductions wouldn’t have gone amiss. Ditto Alex Painter, who tackled Fashion and Joe Sumner (yes, Sting’s son). I guess the rule of thumb is that you know they’re not big names when you don’t know who they are…
They did their best, but I don’t think it’s unfair to say that some of these acts were perhaps a bit underprepared and/or a little overawed (both understandable) and the music did sometimes edge towards karaoke, but there were still plenty of highlights delivered from unexpected quarters. Gary Oldman, THE ACTOR, put some of the other singing professionals to shame with a fine Dead Man Walking (he sounds pleasingly like Bowie) and while he may not have been the coolest man in the house, Tony Hadley delivered a brilliant Changes. Gaby Moreno injected some real passion into proceedings with electrifying Five Years and Adrian Belew‘s double-header of DJ and Boys Keep Swinging was undeniably very exciting, sounding as edgy and paranoid as the originals (although his Sound and Vision was off-kilter and the guitar god clearly fluffed an extended acoustic intro to Tom Chaplain‘s Life On Mars).
Keane’s Tom Chaplain sang Life On Mars (Gerry Leonard on the right)
Seeing Mike Garson play *that* Aladdin Sane solo live is a tick off my bucket list and Catherine Russell and Gerry Leonard alone on stage performing a stripped back Loving The Alien was a thrill – a rare dip into Bowie’s post Let’s Dance catalogue during an even where only three songs recorded after 1981 were performed – and sadly nothing from Blackstar.
Mike Garson was superb on piano
But the star of the show was an absolutely superb Angelo Moore from US alt-rock band Fishbone. He delivered two brilliant performances (Ashes to Ashes and Moonage Daydream) full of wit, theatre and showmanship.
Angelo Moore delivered a superb performance
I expected a little more chat, if I’m honest, particularly from Gary Oldman and some of the more ‘veteran’ musicians, but there was a lot to get through and this was an evening where the music was left to do the talking. The general feeling amongst those I talked to was that a few ‘bigger’ names were expected (LA gets Sting, London gets his son) but it was good to see Simon Le Bon make the effort and he delivered a slick Let’s Dance towards the end of the evening (short-lived Duran Duran member Sterling Campbell was playing drums on and off during the evening).
Earl Slick
All in all, I was very pleased to be there and it was for a great charitable cause. But if you weren’t lucky enough to get tickets, I can assure you that didn’t miss the gig-of-a-lifetime, despite the quality of the musicians on display. The conclusion reached, as we walked out late in the evening to a wet and cold Brixton was there was and will only ever be one David Bowie and if you are going to step on stage and sing one of his songs you need to bring you ‘a-game’ because few will get close to the master.
‘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
‘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
‘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
‘Moonage Daydream’ – Angelo Moore
‘Suffragette City’ – Joe Elliot
‘Heroes’ – Bernard Fowler
Lady Grinning Soul – Holly Palmer
Ziggy Stardust /- Brett someone..
ENCORE:
‘Loving The Alien’ – Catherine Russell
‘Let’s Dance’ – Simon Le Bon & The London Community Gospel Choir
‘Under Pressure’ – Joe Sumner, Catherine Russell & The London Community Gospel Choir
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60 thoughts on “An emotional but uneven celebration of David Bowie takes place in Brixton”
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@ John Moore
Honestly I don’t understand how this blog post could ruin your experience with SDE. One concert review out of hundreds of other posts about deluxe editions?
I personally appreciate it as Paul gave a chance to all those who could not be there to see how it was and what happened.
Now back to boxed sets ;-)
Not really sure what this is doing here as the blog is all about great product etc. It has been a great source of information so getting a bit puzzled that we are now getting a live review of a tribute show. Bowie was special to anyone who loves music but hope the blog is not getting muddled to what it is and what it constantly does?
Talking about tribute concerts I would suggest you look for the recording of a concert that was held in Stockholm’s Berwaldhallen on December 3rd called “Bowie in Berlin”.
I had never heard of any of the swedish artists involved but trust me: it’s incredibly good.
You can guess from the title what period of Bowie’s career it refers to but it’ s not only Bowie songs, there are also songs by other artists that have something to do with David Bowie.
IMHO the best Bowie tribute concert I’ve heard so far.
It’s out there, you should easily find it.
Would expected Joe Elliot to do a bit more since he loves the Mott The Hoople/Bowie stuff.
db covers are legion, and we all have our favorites. i’ve always thought that Happy Rhodes did an amazing job at re-imagining “life on mars” and “ashes to ashes” – a much lesser-known artist with a shockingly unique overlooked voice and impressive catalog.
It was a shame La Roux bungled her performance during the tribute concert. Although I was wondering why she was there in the first place, I just don’t feel she took it seriously and that’s too bad. Let really get serious here, “Golden Years” is a great song and one that does not have intricate or hard to learn lyrics. It just goes to prove that although La Roux sounds great in the studio and on recording, she really needs to work on and perfect her live in concert performances because her performance of “Golden Years” was an embarrassment!
Was also at the gig. After a long wait in line and seeing al 02 customers pass by I feared to end up in the back but surprisingly got a very good spot almost in front middle.
Some of the audience were indeed horrible. My friend went just for the start quick to the bathroom and wasn’t allowed passage back by many people. I had to get him and pull him through.
The concert self has indeed uppers and some lesser performances.
In my opinion most of the guest singers were more ‘fans’ than musicians Bowie worked with.
As you mentioned Paul, Angelo Moore totally nailed it. I think Moonage Daydream was one of the highlights. Too bad Gail Ann Dorsey didn’t do ‘Under Pressure’, always loved her doing this on the last tours. She wasn’t even on stage during the song as I recall.
Overall the concert was not that streamlined but that has it’s charme.
All in all worth the travel.
What a surprise to read Angelo Moore gave a performance. Fishbone. Now there’s a totally underrated band. For any of you interested pick-up a copy of Truth & Soul. Perhaps their best record. Better yet, track down the documentary Everyday Sunshine. You couldn’t make it up.
Thanks for the tip. Going to investigate!
Highlights and a setlist have been posted on You tube and he’s listed as Brett Hool.
Myself and my Dad thoroughly enjoyed it – yes there were slightly untogether songs (take a bow Ms La Roux!), But generally it was lovely.
We’re up on the balcony at the very back (literally, back row) and the audience were great, very much a party atmosphere, smiles all round… Dancing in the streets (sorry, aisles).
We both loved Bernard Fowler – ‘Heroes’ was wonderful from where I was sitting, and I’ve never seen an audience go that bonkers. But, y’know, different strokes… Sorry that those downstairs didn’t have as great a time. Score one for the cheap seats.
Didn’t matter who sang, I was happy to be there to wish David happy birthday, and see Garson, Belew, Alford, Campbell, Leonard, Slick and Dorsey. THAT was what I paid my money for, and they (sorry) never let me down.
I agree with Paul about the underwhelming “guest” vocalists – does anybody know who the bloke was who sang Ziggy Stardust? (it wasn’t Angelo Moore). Absolutely agree about the rude and aggressive crowd and the appalling crush at the back – it was almost impossible to get in from the foyer.
The long haired guy that sang Ziggy Stardust was called Brett someone or other. I didn’t catch his surname.
Thanks Paul – I couldn’t hear any of the announcements where I was standing.
pitty they didn’t get Rick Wakeman (if he was avaiable) as it is Rick’s contribution to Space Oddity that rocketed Bowie into the rockstar orbit. Rick’s synths and mellotron added to the (rather acoustic) song that Bowie heard in his mind. During those days Ricki (as he was called at the time) was the only one who knew how to play a synth hence his 2000+ sessions in only three years!
Hmm. It certainly helped, but I remember the song when it came out that warm summer, and that slightly off-kilter guitar solo was a big catch [along with David’s voice]. David never really made the rockstar orbit from ‘SO’, for quite a while there he looked to be going the same way as the recently-left-us Peter Sarstedt as a One-Song-Wonder. Many moon [landings] later, Rick’s piano was certainly the sound of summer of ’73 on ‘Life On Mars?’
Thank you for this review Paul. I’m in New York and hope that they organize something in NYC as well, after all Bowie lived here (as far as I know). I’m sorry I missed Simon Le Bon singing Lets Dance, that must have been a great performance, and also appropriate as Lets Dance was a hit when Duran dominated the charts. Tony Hadley is always the ultimate professional, not surprised his version of Changes went off without a hitch. I noticed you changed the SDE logo to Bowie’s Blackstar. Nice detail!!
Whatever else went down, good or bad how great to see someone do ‘Lady Grinning Soul’, the best song David never played live [omitting the last two albums where he couldn’t]. Was Mike Garson on the piano for this one Paul? NB Phil Wilson, setlist.fm is great but mistake on this setlist, where it claims only 1 song from ‘Aladdin Sane’ was performed, rather than 2.
Mike Garson pretty much played on everything (where he was needed).
A Garson/Wakeman duo album would be something, wouldn’t it?
I concur with most of the reviews here. I was expecting Boy George, Marc Almond etc
interested in knowing if they were/were not asked.
their twitter feeds do seem somewhat quiet on this.
venue-wise, we were very lucky.
as my wife uses a walking stick (and I had forgotten to ask about disabled seating) we were worried, but security guy saw us walking up to the queue (around the building!) and said we should go to the VIP queue and he told them to let us in. once inside, I went over to a door person and asked if there was anywhere we could sit if it got too much for my wife and she sent us to the box office who stamped our ticket for circle!
got seats okay but really confused as a non-drinker why people throughout the gig were going to the bar constantly – walking in front of us!
oh and when walking from mural to O2, bus sped through bloody big puddle which soaked me waist to foot!
luckily TK Maxx was open so whole new wardrobe purchased and changed into in 10 minutes!
That’s a problem at most UK gigs. A lot seem unable to enjoy the show without a few drinks. I saw Neil Young once solo at Hammersmith Odeon (Apollo, whatever …) and it was almost ruined by people constantly leaving the auditorium, slamming doors etc to get drinks. They then need to leave again to visit the bathroom. Venues should close bars during performance, but it would hit their profit margins.
There is a setlist here, on my second favourite music website:
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/david-bowie/2017/o2-academy-brixton-london-england-3bf8b040.html
Also, it was pretty strange that they used some of the unknown singers given that Lisa Ronson (daughter of Mick) was there but only had the opportunity of singing backing vocals for Joe Elliott. She would have been great.
I was expecting some sort of surprise big name appearance that would generate the same electricity in the audience as when Macca wandered on with Neil Young in Hyde Park a few years back. Iggy doing China Girl for example.
I had no idea who some of the singers were (and still don’t having found out their names!) but some of the most impressive were ones I either didn’t know (Angelo Moore, Gaby Moreno) or ones I thought I wasn’t fussed about (bloke from Keane, Tony Hadley). For me, the real electricity was seeing Mike Garson, Adrian Belew, Earl Slick and Gail Ann Dorsey. Perhaps that’s as it should be. After all, they were all part of Bowie’s creative journey. Strange how we tend to focus on singers just because they’re at the front.
Regarding the setlist above, three songs should be deleted as they were not played on the night: Wild Is The Wind (a real shame not to have heard this), R&R Suicide & Jean Genie.
One of the worst audiences I have ever been in. And don’t get me started on the VIP area. I had a great view of the safety rail throughout.
Gig would have been better with just the band members connected to Bowie throughout his career ( and I would have loved a set from the Blackstar band).
stings son may not be suited to bowies style but his band
fiction plane are a superb act
The older generation of musicians that turned out for Freddie Mercury are no longer interested/capable of doing charity /memorial gigs. The younger ones can’t cut it.
You end up with these karaoke concerts. The pop/rock music that we consumed like tap water is starting to run out. It’s future as one person commented is probably like classical music destined to be played by orchestras who have only a third hand sense of what the composer wished for his art. A blackstar moment indeed . One year on i am still as shocked by his untimely passing
RIP David
not just not interested / capable but sadly no longer with us.
Living in my own personal timewarp, stuck in 1984 whenever I think of a gig like this I am still thinking Paul Young, George Michael, Duran, Spandau and Status Quo…… So Tony Hadley / Simon Le Bon being there at least gives me someone to relate to.
The Freddie Mercury gig was quite definitive and always going to be tough to match.
Little bit harsh on Bernard Fowler (an absolutely belting voice), but I wasn’t there, so whatever.
Nice review though. Did seem to go under the radar a little. They could have done with some big names I guess. When the biggest name performing at a music concert is an actor, you know you’ve ballsed with the organisation.
I’m going to the Opera House gig on the 29tj, hope it’s sorted out by then! I agree on the artists, I’m glad they had a chance but there were certainly numerous glaring omissions… Look at Bowie’s self-curated 50th birthday show at Madison Square Garden to see what the right approach probably is.
I agree that the incredible, epic and beautiful Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert is the benchmark – I truly hope Bowie gets a similar treatment soon.
I have been to a few tributes in the wake of his passing (I’m actually stood at one now haha), and it certainly seems to be a very difficult thing to get right. I thought the Royal Albery Hall tribute (or was it Radio City Music Hall?) was both truly exceptional and a little embarrassing, depending who was on stage. I saw the Sydney Symphony and various artists take on his catalogue and do a (mostly) wonderful job of it. I saw a less successful but still heartfelt one at a smaller theatre soon after, and just the other night witnessed Mick Harvey (of PJ Harvey and the Bad Seeds) and friends preform selections from the Berlin ‘Trilogy’, which was very reverent, faithful and overall very beautiful and memorable.
I suppose it just depends on whether or not the tribute captured the ‘spirit’ or ‘essence’ of Bowie as a performer or artist. It can be excruciating if they don’t. I can’t believe it’s been a year, we miss you David…
Say what you want about Tony Hadley-the man still sounds great live.
Given how utterly outstanding the tribute to Freddie Mercury was… Queen, Bowie. Joe Elliot. Slash. Elton John. Mick Ronson. Ian Hunter. Metallica, and George Michael…you’d have thought they could have done a much better job of it.
As much as these tribute concerts are for a good cause and to pay tribute to a great artist, having artists playing together with minimal rehearsal can be a bit hit and miss.
I’ve always been impressed with Adrian Belew ever since seeing him play with Bowie on Musikladen. The couple of times I saw Bowie live in concert, it was with a different lead guitarist.
I think the only way you’re going to get a stellar line up, if that’s what you want, is if you do something like Queen at Wembley with the Freddie Mercury tribute. You could probably attract every person associated with Bowie that’s still alive.
It’s funny reading about the congestion at the back of the venue. I must admit when I was younger and fitter, I’d be up the front jumping up and down to the beat. Now that I’m a bit older and less fit, I’m happy to be a little further back and just nodding my head. Sounds like most people didn’t want to be up the front to have a quick getaway
I went to Liverpool last year for the end of The Jam exhibition concert which was a shambles. It was supposed to be a tribute to The Jam but artists advertised didn’t show up. Some of the ones that did, didn’t rehearse. It should have been advertised as “From The Jam” with some warm up acts. One of the saving graces was Nick Heyward who surprised everyone as being a Jam fan. He got a good ovation to which he admitted that he was bricking it beforehand.
It was terrible.
Before I went out, I joked that I hoped I wouldn’t text “IT’S STING” and hoped, at best, the great unknown of guest vocalists would provide a unique and fitting celebration.
At worst, I feared getting the son of Sting.
I got the son of Sting, singing “Under Pressure”.
There was a huge sense of people being plucked off the guest list and thrown at the stage at the last minute as David Bowie was unable to sing at a few hours notice. Utterly disappointing.
What was the butler from Upstairs Downstairs doing there ? and La Roux why was she even there in the first place she is dreadful.
For me, the highlights were:
Gary Oldman – Dead Man Walking
Tom Chaplin – Life On Mars
Joe Elliot – All The Young Dudes
Adrian Belew – Fame
Tony Hadley – Changes
Gail Ann Dorsey – Aladdin Sane
Gail Ann Dorsey – Space Oddity
Adrian Belew – DJ/Boys Keep Swinging
Joe Elliot – Suffragette City
Sadly, i didn’t get to see the encore as i had to leave early to make sure i could get home on the trains due to the underground strike.
It would’ve been good if they would’ve maybe started the show an hour earlier because of the strike
I don’t understand what the connections were between Bowie and the vocalists. The bloke from Keane? Seriously? Nothing against him personally but what common ground do he and Bowie have? Tony Tory Hadley? Le Bon? Weren’t they part of the “new wave boys” that Bowie chided in Teenage Wildlife? Where were the artists that Bowie encouraged and supported? Lorde? Arcade Fire? Placebo? Iggy? Even Richard Butler from the Psychedelic Furs would have been good. Looks to me that it was just a matter of who was available. Maybe some of the more interesting artists will appear at the New York show, but as the only confirmed guest so far is Sting then I doubt it. Sting’s tedious faux jazz pop is about as far from Bowie’s risk taking experimentation as it’s possible to get.
Are you massively generalising or are we ignoring Never Let Me Down and Tonight? No evidence of either risk taking of experimentation, unless it is with peoples patience.
I like Never Let Me Down, thanks very much.
Actually Tony Hadley knew Bowie and as usual did a sterling job on Changes, a song that is a staple of his solo set. Which ever party he votes for is irrelevant to the review of this show.
+1 Bob. Childish to add in political preference of Hadley. I am sure Bowie could not give a monkeys about stuff like that, and accepted people on merit and character rather than identity politics.
How do you know? He cared enough to make a public statement on the Scottish referendum even though he probably hadn’t set foot on UK soil for nearly a decade.
How do you know he would have cared? You maid the comment as if Hadley was someone Bowie would not have approved of due to political affiliations. Quantifying Bowie’s political leanings is hard to determine (even taking out of the equation his drug fueled momentary lapse of reason asking for a new right wing movement in the 70’s), but he had Mick Jagger as a pal. Jagger often expressed admiration for Maggie Thatcher. I can’t recall David disowning him as a friend because of it. Was Bowie’s character demonstratable as being one of stereotyping and pigeonholing through ignorance and prejudice? I can’t see any evidence of that myself in his actions or statements over the years. If you can provide any, fire away.
As a Canadian fan with no practical opportunity of catching this it was great to read a review to give me a little insight into the evening. I have to say my curiosity is still peaked by all the weird performer/song combinations. Thanks for the review Paul.
Will
I went along to the V&A thing yesterday, that was fantastic, with the audience taking on the musical duties, me included although my alto parts needs work
Paul, that was a very fair review. Unfortunately we were at the back and it was absolutely horrendous, it must have been against health and safety. You couldnt move and it was a crush. My wife was starting to get palpitations as at 5’2″ she was really suffering. When we tried to get out people just wouldn’t move however much you asked politely. We had to help an older lady who was having a panic attack and managed to get her out. I spoke to security who said it was the worst situation they had seen at the venue and they said it was because people weren’t moving down towards the front and clogging up the rear. They said they would need 60 guys to go in and sort it out. I spoke to another security lady who had gone in to try and help but got verbally abused. This was the most ignorant audience I’ve ever been in amongst and I’ve been to thousands of gigs and all size venues. It was the mostly older people who were the worst (and they complain about the youngsters). We listened to the rest of the gig from the foyer. Having seen David Bowie live in numerous occasions from 1978 to 2003 this experience left a bad taste in the mouth. Sorry rant over
That sounds awful. Bizarrely, we were fairly near the front and it was fine. There was something weird going on last night with all the queuing and it took an age to get out.
gail ann Dorsey didn’t do under pressure? she was great on it when doing it with bowie.
No she didn’t, which was a bit strange.
Strange that there couldn’t have been a better effort. With the right artists they could have done a huge gig at Wembley with proceeds to cancer research or something. Or are those days gone?
Bernard Fowler did an excellent job on Win, one of few non-singles of the evening. Gaby Moreno wowed on another, Five Years. But Angelo Moore stole the show, like you say.
Your set list is incorrect, though. Not like you to make mistakes. That’s the NME’s job.
Give me a link to the right setlist then!
Everyone is posting the same set-list, which was probably the planned one but not followed on the night. Holly didn’t do TMWSTW. No Jean Genie or RnR Suicide. Angelo didn’t do Ziggy, a curly-haired busker did it. Lady Grinning Soul was near the end. Did anyone make a list of the performed songs?
I started halfway through… but then gave up towards the end!
Bit harsh on Bernard Fowler – Jean Genie wasn’t even performed (see also R&R Suicide
and Wild is the Wind on the set list you reproduce) – though he did better on the Earl Slick Statuon to Station tour, when he had the chance to claim the stage for more than one song at a time. Win was a highlight for me last night.
I disagree re: the Fishbone bloke – couldn’t stand him. But agree re sound issues and some below par guests. Man of the match was Tony Hadley for me, though Mr Hudson, SLB and Jow Elliott all great.
I agree with a lot of what you say Sir and well done for also pointing out the errors in the set list. The NME guy made the sams mistake in his review and I actually rang and spoke to him this morning and asked him which Bowie tribute gig he was at in Brixton because he clearly wasn’t at the one me and several thousand others were at. He swore blind that The Jean Jenie and R n’R Suicide were played but I told him the only place he heard them were in his head and perhaps he’d had a few too many sherbets on the night lol. A complete joke really that a publication like the NME has such sloppy reporting/journalism.
I wasn’t as impressed with Hadley as you were although he was certainly very competent, I actually thought Le Bob was better. Fowler was ok, nothing special on the night but I like the guy, La Roux was an embarrassment and that’s being polite and Angelo Moore for me was pretty atrocious too. Bowie’s band/musicians were the real stars of the night and the music itself but what the gig really did was merely magnify the brilliance of the legend who want there but was perhaps watching from above although he might have given up himself on some of the show :)
Le Bon not Le Bob sorry :)
The best Bowie tribute act around are Jean Genie. Seen them loads of times over the years at The Brook in Southampton. A good time is always had by all and in the past year they’ve incorporated The Width of a Circle into their set list. Tickets cost about £12!
Pretty accurate review aside from the fact that there was, sorry to point out, no performance of The Jean Jenie or Rock n’ Roll Suicide at the concert. ‘Yes’ they were down on the printed set list but they never made it into the show I’m afraid.
Most of your other observations I pretty much entirely agree with especially regarding La Roux who was a total car crash of a performance but I disagree re Angelo Moore who I thought was awful.
It was very shoddy in parts for sure and a fair few of the names, aside from the appalling La Roux, just didn’t cut it either. Bowie’s cord band were great though.