Music > Live Reviews

Gary Numan

The Nick Rayns LCR, UEA

11/10/19

Gary Numan’s musical journey has featured numerous peaks and troughs. From his initial huge success, there followed years in the musical wilderness, before being recognised as a pioneer and gaining a whole new generation of fans. This tour celebrated his 40 years as a solo artist and allowed him to showcase tracks from across the decades. I was immediately struck by the impressive scale of the show; it was only 5 years ago that Gary played the Waterfront, whereas now the larger LCR is needed to fit in, not just the crowd, but all the trappings of a major tour.

Opening track My Name Is Ruin, off his most recent album, was the perfect way to begin the set – a statement of intent. This tour may be about celebrating his entire career, but here was his biggest song for many years, off his highest charting album since the 80s, showing exactly where Gary is at right now. I’ve only seen him live once before and again, I was struck by what an energetic performer he is, not at all the aloof persona I expected. There’s an air of theatricality about him, but it all felt very natural, he is obviously completely at home on stage, and was clearly loving playing his music for us.

Highlights were legion, in fact of the 19 song set, only 2 or 3 songs worked less well for me – Stories felt a little flat, and final song Jo The Waiter made for a rather lacklustre end to what had been an exhilarating set. Early classics such as M.E, Metal, Down In The Park and especially We Are Glass all sounded as ahead of the curve as they always have, whilst mid-career tracks like Dead Son Rising proved to be unexpected standouts. I can’t claim to have slavishly followed Gary’s career, so hearing songs that I was barely familiar with, only enhanced my appreciation of him. His band were great too, this never felt like I was watching a solo performer, much more like watching a group of musicians sparking off each other.

Oddly, mega hit Cars was not one of the set’s highlights for me, but hearing Are ‘Friends’ Electric in its extended version most certainly was. Respect too for featuring a brand new track in his 4 song encore, a song which will be on next year’s new album. Further proof that here is an artist who’s happy to revisit his past, but always has his focus set firmly on the future.

This was a textbook example of how to put on a first-rate live show, and Numan’s mix of electronic, rock, goth and industrial was, at times, utterly joyous.