(14 February) David Bowie is my God. Oh yes indeed
Wow. Just got back from one of the top five gigs EVER. And I've seen a LOT of gigs. It's brilliant how good music can turn the shittiest situation into a good one.
Anyway. We'd been planning this one for ages. Drake and Casey were supposed to come round my house for drinks before hand. But they are having serious shit to deal with at work, so couldn't make it. They didn't even make it to the concert to meet me till after the support act had started. What was worse, was that it had started raining, really, really heavily. And our seats are on the field.
We got to our seats eventually, Hillary and Monique were there as well but sitting well away from us. Monique started hassling me about my clothes being wet, so I asked if that was a ploy for her to see me naked again, and managed to embarress her.
So we're sitting in our seats, getting wet, knowing we won't be able to see anything when he comes on. People are in bad moods. Drake and Casey are snapping at each other. We decide to go sit in the stand, which means we can't actually see the stage properly, but we aren't wet.
The man comes on. Honestly, he is incredible. Opens with 'Jean Genie', then a couple of new ones, then a cover of 'Cactus' by the Pixies. Drake and I are practically hugging each other at that. (Big Pixies fans). Bowie's earning big respect from us for thanking us for coming, and sympathising about the rain.
We decide to get some more atmosphere, and head back to the field. Unbelievably, we're able to walk right up the side, near the front. We end up closer to the stage than we've been at some indoor concerts in Wellington. It is fucking great.
You just have to love Bowie's attitude. He's standing on a platform leading out into the crowd, so he's getting as wet as we are. But all he wants to do is have a good time - you can tell that performing is a huge buzz for him. He does the hits (Ashes to Ashes, Fame, Changes, Ziggy Stardust), he does the obscure ones (instrumental off Low, Hang on to Yourself), he does the covers (White Light/White Heat, All the Young Dudes, Cactus, Man Who Sold the World - OK, that's one of his that someone else covered ), he does the new(ish) ones (Halo Spaceman, I'm Afraid of Americans, a few off the new album that I forget), he does something from pretty much every era of his career. Except, mercifully, 1984-1992. Nothing between China Girl and Halo Spaceman. But, frankly, he only recorded about two good songs in that period anyway. So no big loss.
The man has class. And awesome charisma. He makes you feel like he really wants to be onstage, performing for you. Everyone came away from the show buzzing and happy. Couldn't ask for more
(Top 5 gigs ever:
1. New Order, at Reading Festival, Reading, England, 1998. They played the Joy Division songs again for the first time. People were alternately crying and hugging each other with joy.
2. Beastie Boys at Big Day Out Festival, Galway, Ireland 1998. Same deal. The *entire* crowd dancing. Afterwards I couldn't talk, could barely walk, just trying to get my breath back, but like everyone around me I had a huge grin on my face. This random girl came up and hugged me.
3. David Bowie, today, Westpactrust Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand.
4. George Clinton, Camden, London, 1999. Unbelievably good vibes, the entire crowd singing in unison (this is while he was *off* stage).
5. Sex Pistols, Auckland, New Zealand, 1997. Incredible. They take the stage with white lights playing across the entire venue, and Johhny Rotten screaming 'do you know who we are?' as they launch into 'Bodies'. 20 years later and they still play with an untouchable energy.
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