In the port of Rotterdam, There's a sailor who sings...
By all accounts David Bowie played the best set of the Reality tour so far when he "blew the roof off" of the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam. I heard this description from many fans last night and this morning, who all described Bowie as being on top form and at his mischievous best.
The Jean Genie, Fashion and Try Some, Buy Some were aired for the first time on the tour, and David again performed a twenty-seven song set-list (first time since Copenhagen) which ran as follows:
Rotterdam October 15th 2003
01 New Killer Star
02 The Jean Genie
03 Fame
04 Cactus
05 China Girl
06 Fall Dog Bombs The Moon
07 Hallo Spaceboy
08 Sunday
09 Under Pressure
10 White Light, White Heat
11 Ashes To Ashes (followed by a snippet of Blur's Song 2)
12 Fashion
13 Try Some, Buy Some
14 Never Get Old
15 The Motel
16 5:15 The Angels Have Gone
17 Loving The Alien
18 I'm Afraid Of Americans
19 "Heroes"
20 Heathen (The Rays)
(Encore)
21 Bring Me The Disco King
22 Slip Away
23 Pablo Picasso
24 Changes
25 Let's Dance
26 Suffragette City
27 Ziggy Stardust
You can read a Dutch-language review of the show entitled "Nederlandse fans blijven David Bowie trouw"
Rotterdam 15th October 2003
So I thought I was doing 8 gigs on this tour? then I had an attack of madness and decided to go to Rotterdam one day before the gig. Smart move. I went to Copenhagen last week and had a fabulous time, my senses dazzled by this stage show and hearing Reality live plus the wonderful company of so many Bnetters.
Yesterday was better. Everything: it was more polished, the set list was more varied and the running order and flow of the show is down pat (after only 5 gigs no less!). We got there late so ended up about 10 rows back on the left. It?s funny to me now how that seems miles away. Before Poughkeepsie I?d seen each db gig from the back of a stadium and now, I admit, I?m totally spoiled!
I guess the one thing I was after, unattainable you might say when you went to Pough and Riverside, was surprises. Even having seen the show last week I still wanted them. Second song in? Jean Genie. And then Fashion. And then Try Some, Buy Some. First performances on the tour. Well, that?s sorted!
I was delighted that so many of the audience knew the Heathen songs, maybe I shouldn?t have been surprised. It is db?s highest profile and impact album in years. Slip Away has really become the great anthem from it for this tour...
Set list... well, we all have our opinions on it. Personally I?m over it: I could, as could you, choose a 50 song set list not played last night or any other on the tour. But what has been chosen fits completely with the band, the surroundings, the new album? I?d be happy if Reality was performed in entirety every night.
Having said that there were tunes that just about took the high roof off the Ahoy in Rotterdam: Suffragette City (brilliant as ever), Changes, China Girl, Ashes to Ashes, Let?s Dance etc. I was thrilled to hear The Motel (never heard it live before) and an exquisite Tibet gig style version of Loving the Alien.
Disco King has my vote for moment of the show as it stands: it?s not the easiest song to sing every night but he?s pulling it off with ease. And might I add looking hotter with each passing gig. Allow me the moment: tight sleeveless T-shirt. Say no more.
Having never travelled to see db live outside England I wondered if there was a point where I?d get fed up of hearing the same songs. After 4 gigs so far this year I can only say bring it on! I?m getting more excited with each passing show and feel a bit like a runner on starting blocks waiting for the gun to go off? next stop Frankfurt!
Liz Tray
Thanx Liz... I look forward to your Frankfurt thoughts.