Gary Numan
This gig was originally booked for the Waterfront, and it speaks volumes for Numan’s huge fanbase that it was very quickly moved up to the LCR. It’s remarkable how his loyal fans have stuck by him through thick and thin, and with this tour only featuring music from his first three, key, albums it felt like the perfect time to go and see the man in concert for the first time.
First up though was I Speak Machine, the audio visual duo led by vocalist and synth maestro Tara Busch and non-performing filmmaker Maf Lewis. Sadly I missed the first ten minutes of the set, arriving to find a screen set up at the front of the stage with Tara providing impressive heavy electronic backing to the zombie film being shown. I Speak Machine have supported Gary Numan before and two of his daughters even appeared as extras in the film, so he is clearly a fan. The music had a cold wave quality to it – stark & ominous with heavy bass and when accompanying the visuals, very impressive. Tara’s vocals ranged from ethereal to operatic and, whilst I didn’t enjoy the cover of Ticket To Ride, it was an excellent way to start the evening.
Gary Numan is one of the innovators of British electronic music, who initially didn’t receive the recognition his early efforts deserved. It’s well documented, though, that in more recent years a generation of musicians have named him as a key influence. His newer material has taken him down a more industrial route, but he is also happy to look back at his early years and celebrate the songs which have allowed him to fill venues in 2016. The first thing which was apparent was that this was going to be A Show. Backed by a four piece band the stage lighting was brilliant. Ranging from piercingly bright white back lights to lush greens, yellows and reds colour coding individual tracks, it was a lesson in how to present a live show. The sound was loud and clear and Gary was up front throughout the show. He’s come a long way from the stilted android persona he had when these albums were made - now he is an agile, posing rock star. Laying down some tasty guitar, or providing extra keyboards this was his show and the hardcore fans lapped it up. The riff at the start of Metal was the first of numerous highlights – this was the sound of the future 1979 style. The songs were given a modern makeover, sounding beefier than the studio originals which was understandable, but I can’t deny sometimes the bluster took something away from the slightly brittle sounding recorded versions.
Every great Numan song from his early years was played – M.E., Down In The Park and We Are Glass were my highlights, and the set seemed to reach its natural conclusion with Are Friends Electric, Cars and I Die: You Die. He did come back on for a two song encore but I don’t think they surpassed what had gone before, and I think those three tracks would have better ended the gig. Still, the reception was rapturous and for some people in the crowd this had clearly been a very big deal indeed.
For all his perceived aloofness, Gary clearly loves and needs his audience, and is happy to give them what they want. Seeing his three young daughters dancing at the side of the stage shows that he is in a very happy place indeed, and I came away with the sense that I had seen an artist who is completely at peace with himself and is able to take his career in whichever direction he chooses.
