"Oh they was alright, the band was altogether " (well most of em..)
Click on the photograph for a lovely, larger version
Image Mark Plati
He was awful nice - really quite paradise..
San Francisco yesterday joined neighbouring Los Angeles with some excellent reviews of David's set at the Shoreline Area: 2 Show on Wednesday evening.
The Examiner focused on David himself rather than the songs, and said:- "Area 2 was the opportunity to stand (or sit) in the presence of a rock god. ....what was most impressive was the 50-something's ability to win the mostly under-30 crowd's attention and respect just by being Bowie -- simultaneously oozing humility and undeniable star power.
..Using few electronic tricks, he even held the interest of characteristically ADD-suffering dance music fans. ...in under an an hour-and-a-half, Bowie proved that even in 2002, less is still much more.
..In the end, everyone in the audience hoped for a slice of Bowie's ageless cool. (sigh..)
The San Francisco Chronicle led, as many reviewers have, with an examination of the mixture of artistic styles on offer. They decided:- "Opposites do attract" and continued with a quote from Moby:- "If you had come to me when I was 15 years old and told me I'd be sharing a stage with David Bowie," he told the Shoreline crowd at the conclusion of his 95-minute set, "I would never have believed you."
They continued:- "In both present and past incarnations, Bowie epitomizes anti-rock sophistication, carefully choreographed performances and sleek sensuality.
Looking blond and fit and wearing an ensemble -- black vest and trousers, white shirt -- that evoked his Station to Station tour, the still-thin White Duke was in fine voice, easily crescendoing from low croons to his early material's trademark high notes. His seven-piece band, which included stalwart guitarist Earl Slick, was proficient in delivering Bowie's material from his impressive new "Heathen" album and reworked versions of older standards like "Ashes to Ashes," "China Girl" and the still-funkified "Fame."
"This is so '80s; it could not be more '80s," Bowie declared in introducing "Fashion." ...A luminous "Ziggy Stardust" closed the set with a blast from the early '70s; an unexpected "Breaking Glass" nodded to Bowie's Berlin-inspired late-'70s artistic era, which climaxed with a the rock- orchestral sweep of "Heroes."
The "Heathen" songs segued remarkably well into this 85-minute retrospective, from the moody "Slip Away" and "5:15 the Angels Have Gone" to a lush cover of the Pixies' "Cactus."
'Anyone for a Stylophone?' ;-) db wows the crowd in SF
Image: Mark Plati
At The Examiner there is also an email interview online, which David gave in advance of the gig. Entitled "The art and times of David Bowie", it is fascinating stuff. Topics range from New York post 9/11 and David's contribution to The Concert For New York City, to the films, books, records and painters which have inspired David lately. (Brits in particular will adore the 'Boys From The Blackstuff' quotes "Giz a job... go on.. gizzit"). David closes with this:-
"It's a satisfying life. My family and I are as happy and content as is possible in these strange days."
Between song banter in San Francisco included more Stylophone fun and David even treated the crowd to a small snatch of 'Space Oddity' on the said instrument! His Stylophone price is dropping rapidly as the tour draws to a close... He greeted the crowd with "Good Evening, Palo Alto" in Californian accent, and asked them to reply "Good Evening, David", this time in his 'English Gentleman' voice. He spent a moment or two with his back to the crowd, and then apologised, saying he had to keep an eye on Sterling as he "wants to learn to play the drums".. :-) (Thanks Simone)
As you can see from the other two shots, we have more images from Mark Plati today, and so we leave you with this great backstage shot of Gail and 'Cat' "doing it for themselves".
Image: Mark Plati
Setlist
Life on Mars?
Ashes to Ashes
Breaking Glass
Cactus
China Girl
Slip Away
Fame
I?m Afraid of Americans
I've Been Waiting For You
5:15 The Angels Have Gone
"Heroes"
Heathen (The Rays)
Encores
A New Career In A New Town
Fashion
Everyone Says Hi
Let's Dance
Ziggy Stardust
Thanks once again to SusanS for all of her help over the past two weeks. We've had a lot of fun! Hope you have too.
:))