Roxy
Music remake, remodel and reinvent
hen
news of a Roxy Music reunion swept earlier this year, quickly followed
by an announcement from Brian Eno that he wasn't going to participate,
anticipation for the success based on perceived intention was low.
As it turned out, that was a good thing, because Roxy Music rocked.
The original core of the band Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera, Andy
Mackay and Paul Thompson, plus keyboards, violins, killer vocals
from Sarah Brown and the all important dancers made this one of
the shows of the year.
Roxy Music returned to Melbourne for the first time in more than
two decades last night and chose the very first song from the very
first album to open the set. "Re-make / Re-model" showcased
a Roxy reinvention from the very first song. When the curtains were
opened and the Ferry vocal surfaced, it also highlighted Roxy Music
as a band with Ferry taking a backseat on piano and Phil Manzanera
and Andy Mackay being the first bodies you saw. Hard to believe
the song is 29 years old.
"Great to be back in Melbourne" announced Ferry at the
end of the song and straight into "Street Life". This
was NOT going to be a group of old guys reminiscing. Roxy Music
were here to rock.
The setlist was made up of a good smidgen of songs from each of
the 8 studio albums, with "Ladytron" again from the first
album next for show.
Ferry thanked his Aussie support act Mishelle Bradford-Jones before
jumping to the end of the catalogue and performing "While My
Heart Is Still Beating" from their final album 'Avalon'. There
is NO dead wood in the Roxy catalogue, they broke up at their peak
just after Avalon in 1982.
The importance of Manzanera's guitar sound to compliment Ferry's
suave vocals was blatantly obvious as Phil sliced his way through
"Out of the Blue" and violinist Lucy Wilkins then took
the spotlight.
Ferry changed from his leather suit into his leisure suit and returned
to the stage for the dark "A Song For Europe' and the Flesh
and Blood ballad 'My Only Love. Sarah Brown is an amazing vocalist.
This woman was pure soul as her voice became an instrument in the
Roxy Music band. Legendary guitarist Chris Spedding also grabbed
a bit of the spotlight at this point.
Then the audience were hammered with true Roxy Musicianship. The
epic "In Every Dream Home A Heartache" demonstrated Roxy
Music as one of the 70's altime great album selling bands. "Oh
Yeah" another one from Flesh and Blood followed (interesting
'Same Old Scene' was not part of the set, nor was "More Than
This' for that matter) and then Roxy Music, the party animal surfaced
with dancing girls and 'Both Ends Burning'.
The introspective instrumental finale to the Avalon album "Tara"
came next. It was a showcase moment for Andy MacKay, then Bryan
was back for some Roxy Music class - "Avalon", "Dance
Away" and Jealous Guy" in quick succession.
The era's were covered, the ballads were done and now it was just
time to party. "Editions of You" and "Virginia Plain"
signaled the singalong section of the setlist for the fans, but
it was obvious as they left the stage that the most potent moment
was yet to come.
The crowd only waited a minute for Roxy to return with their biggest
pop hit "Love Is The Drug" and then sign-off tune "Do
The Strand" but wait there's more ... The farewell moment was
the ballad "For Your Pleasure" with each band member one
by one leaving the stage.
Setlist for Roxy Music at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Australia
16 Aug 2001
Remake/Remodel
Street Life
Ladytron
While My Heart Is Still Beating
Out Of The Blue
A Song For Europe
My Only LoveIn Every Dreamhome A Heartache
Oh Yeah
Both Ends Burning
TaraAvalonDance Away
Jealous Guy
Editions Of You
Virginia Plain
Love Is The Drug
Do The Strand
For Your Pleasure
Paul Cashmere, Radioundercover.com
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