Roxyrama
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Roxy Music on the Road 2001
Entertainment Centre, Perth, Australia - 19th August 2001
| Support Act: Michelle Bradford Jones |
| 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, 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 Chris Hewitt for this personal review. Given that Perth is the most isolated civilised city in the world, it's always amazed me that Bryan Ferry has included Perth on the Australian leg of his tours. Having seen him on each one in the last dozen years, it was especially exciting to see him include the greatest band that ever lived. I've been there since I first heard the opening bars to "Virginia Plain" all those years ago in the summer of '72 on TOTP back in Woking when I was 13. It was the greatest thing I'd ever heard, and like most of their music, it hasn't dated in any way. The best thing about last night's show was the emphasis on the early albums up to "Siren". Roxy played with a passion that I haven't seen in any 70's band who are still touring. Lile others, I agree that it would not have been the same without TGPT....he was formidable, a man who has always been the ballast to this great band. Bryan Ferry, for once looked as if he was truly enjoying himself; perhaps he realised just what it is he,Paul,Phil and Andy created way back when. The set-list was the same as the other Australian dates with the exception of "Mother of Pearl" which would have been a high point for me. Their power blew me away, the sound of it all was sooooo close to the originals even down to Colin Good's rhythm piano on "Do the Strand". Likewise, Lucy Wilkins had done her homework which in total created that complete Roxy sound. I could not fault the band. It really is incredible how good they were. To hear "Street Life" live for the first time since the Rainbow in North London in '74 was reward enough. The standout was the finale...."For your pleasure" was a brave move to leave on; who'd have thought it? THAT will be the image I will always remember as they each left the stage, saving the best man 'till last pounding away on the toms. It seems that Roxy Music have no plans for recording, which I feel would be a mistake because I've always seen the distinction between Bryan's solo work and the band. I feel Roxy have it in them to create an album as good as "Stranded" ....they are still out on their own plane with no equal. It would have been good to hear "Pyjamarama","Beauty Queen","The Thrill Of It All" and "Serenade", but I'm being greedy. We were lucky enough to meet the band as they emerged from rear exit. They signed my programme and chatted for a minute before heading off in seperate busses. Paul Thompson was especially friendly with his thick Geordie accent going over most people's heads. I shook his hand and said "Thanks". All in all, a fantastic show which we will probably never see the like of again. |
| External Reviews: - Ray Purvis in the West newspaper here |