Roxyrama
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Roxy Music on the Road 2001
Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, USA - 7th August 2001
| Support Act: Rufus Wainwright - see details here |
| Setlist:- Re-make / Re-model, Street Life, Ladytron,
While My Heart is Still Beating, Out of the Blue, A Song for Europe, My
Only Love, In Every Dream Home A Heartache, Oh Yeah, Both Ends Burning,
Tara, Mother Of Pearl, Avalon, Dance Away, Jealous Guy, Editions of You,
Virginia Plain Encores: Love Is The Drug, Do The Strand, For Your Pleasure |
| Review: - I'm grateful
to Richard d'Assalenaux for this personal review Having seen RM the night before at the Greek Theatre from my seat on the terrace, I settled into my 3rd row seat thinking that tonight's show would be somewhat of a letdown for the band. After all, the second show was an add on, and wasn't a sellout. My terrace seat from the night before sat empty along with most of the other cheap seats. But one thing this show had going for it, was that the season ticket holders were not offered tickets to this show. The true Roxy fans got the good seats. Sure enough, the band responded to the fans adoration by performing a blistering set that had everything from the August 6 show plus Virginia Plain to boot. I saw their first North American show in Toronto on July 16. I feel sorry for the Canadian fans, having missed "In Every Dream Home A Heartache", "Mother of Pearl", and for being cheated out of hearing "Avalon" with Yannick Etienne. But then those lucky folks back on the island got to hear them play "If There Is Something", so they can feel sorry for us colonists. Now for the review. At 8:45 p.m. the curtain parted and the ta-ta-ta-ing of Bryan's electric piano signaled the beginning of a tempo blasting version of Re-make/Re-model. All the basic elements were there, right down to the VCS3 synthesizers that were adroitly handled by Lucy Wilkins in the Brian Eno/Eddie Jobson role. Phil, Andy, TGPT, Lucy, Bryan, Zev Katz and finally Chris Spedding all had short solos that serve as the band's introduction. The crowd was on its feet and dancing right from the start. Bryan stepped down from behind his piano on the riser half way through the song to the sound of rapturous applause as he waved to the audience. TGPT kept the rhythm pounding as this song built to its crescendo and then spiraled down to its staccato ending. The first enthusiastic standing ovation followed. "Street Life" is a fine song. But it sounds rushed with it's constant tempo that doesn't allow the lyrics to linger. You know "Street life, what a life". "Ladytron" is a show stopper. Starting with Andy's lyrical oboe intro and building on TGPT's relentless drumming into Phil's orgasmic solo with the tremolo bar on his Stratocaster. Ah, Heaven. I always thought "While My Heart Is Still Beating" was one of the best songs from the Avalon LP. I loved it when they played it back in '82 on the High Road Tour. But now that the band has rejuvenated its old catalog, this song no longer seems to fit. Still, Bryan sings it with the same tortured emotion that makes this a classic love song. "Out Of The Blue" has got us to our feet again. We're all singing "Love came rushing in". Lucy steals the show with her sonic violin. Eddie Jobson would be proud. Colin Good has us relaxed and carefree as he strokes the piano keys on this rolling, romantic intro to "A Song For Europe", then Bryan waltzes up to the microphone in his white tuxedo jacket, and in his deepest baritone, utters "Here as I sit at this empty cafe thinking of you". I remember how beautiful this song has always been, and how Andy pours his heart out into his saxophone. They never played it better. "My Only Love" became a classic back in '82 when Neil Hubbard gave us his bluesy guitar solo on the High Road Tour. Well, Chris Spedding gives us his version of the blues accompanied by the jazz stylings of vocalist Sarah Brown. They make the song sound fresh, just like yesterday. I have been disappointed that the song doesn't finish with Andy's wailing saxophone, like it did in '82. A little anticlimactic. The lights turn eerie green, an oil lamp bubbles on the rear screen, and a haunting organ sets the tone as Bryan steps to the microphone and drolly sings "In every dreamhome a heartache". The crowd roars in approval. And everyone sings "But you blew my mind" as Phil rips into his Les Paul for the blistering ending to this classic piece of Rock 'N' Roll. The tempo picks up with the sweet song "Oh Yeah". Bryan, now dressed in his silver suit, had us singing the refrain "There's a band playing on the radio, to a rhythm of rhyming guitars". He was having a good time, and so were we. "Both Ends Burning" gets everyone on their feet and keeps them there for the rest of the night. Andy's sax is in full blown force. Phil and Chris battle with dueling guitars while the go-go girls bring back the hot-pants era of the late 60's. The lights shine bright white into the audience where everyone is dancing. The crowd is still in a frenzy when Andy steps out alone to start the opening refrain to "Tara". He has to pause for a moment before he whispers into his oboe the beautiful melodies from this funereal song. Lucy takes over on her violin with a sorrowful, but heavenly solo, then she and Andy play off one another for one of the most majestic moments of the show. The spotlight is on Phil as he slams his way through the opening of "Mother of Pearl". The whole band is grinding with intensity as Bryan commands "Turn the lights way down lowww..." The audience chimes in "Who who who" at the right time, and then we all settle in for the rhapsodic piano and mesmerizing beat of the song. "Oh mother of pearl, I wouldn't trade you for the whole world". And I wouldn't trade anything for this night at the Greek Theatre. The familiar rhythm of "Avalon" sends the crowd wild. Lucy Thornton keeps the beat with the bongos and her swinging blonde locks. Bryan is back at his piano on the riser singing "Now the party's over". But where is Yannick? Then from "out of nowhere" she strolls out to center stage. Her voice ascends to heaven where the angels sit in enviable admiration. "Dance Away" brings out the rotating crystal ball, and the party is on. We could go all night. "I was dreaming of the past" lamented Bryan. He has covered so many songs so well, but "Jealous Guy" has to be his best. Andy's tearful sax makes you want to mourn, all over, the loss of the master songman. I think John Lennon would heartily approve of this soul touching rendition. Every time I hear Bryan whistle this tune, I think how hard it must be to do that with the music playing and the crowd cheering. Yet he pulls it off as though he is alone with his own thoughts and memories. Pick up the beat and return to yesteryear with the rockin' "Editions of You". Lucy's back on the VCS3 synthesizer cranking out the strange sounds just like Eno used to do. Bryan poses for his one handed, standing on one leg, organ solo, just like he has always done. Phil and Andy tear through this song with the frenetic energy of fifties rockers, not rockers in their fifties. "Virginia Plain" shocked me. It took a few seconds for me to realize they were actually playing it. By then we were all "flying down to Rio". We all rocked and when Bryan asked "What's your name?" He let us give the answer. And we did! After a short exit, Zev led the band on stage and started strumming the familiar bass chords of "Love Is The Drug", the band's only major hit in the states. We all sang and danced as TGPT kept our feet tapping. "Do The Strand" has got to be the most fun song to perform. Bryan is at his most joyous as this lame dancer trying to promote this new craze. He can't help but put a smile on your face. TGPT's intro to "For Your Pleasure" signals the winding down of this exhilarating show. As the members leave one by one, it reminds me that this is truly a band. No one person could have put this much talent and creativity into one show. And while Bryan Ferry is a talented solo artist and a major star in his own right, Roxy Music is so much more. We can only hope that when he sings "tara", that he is not signaling the end to Roxy, but only more like "a bientot", we will see you later. |
| External Reviews: -
Robert
Hilburn in the LA Times here |