Hi! Well here we are again, yet another review from Starr....LOL! Okay, first of all a big shout out goes to the cool people I've met! Nice to finally meet some of you!
Okay, my Duranie pal and I got on the line around 8:00am so (yes we were that crazy)! Hey, we got a real good spot right behind the VIPs so it was all good and kind of worth it (I think....LMAO)!
Anyway, after a long 12 hour wait (and then another hour, which felt like 10 hours, until all the VIPs got through), we finally got in.
Now normally I would describe what the boys were wearing at the show (just because some people like it when I do); but by now you all have seen pics from the show on the net, so no need for me to tell you....LOL!
I have to say this was not one of their best shows. Just for the record, though, everyone was saying how Simon forgot the words to all of the songs or half the songs. I even read on some website that he forgot all of the words to the songs except for the new ones (well first of all if that was true, then it would only be one song). I was there and he only forgot words to three out of the 17 songs they played. That's not exactly half and it's certainly not all of the songs. I think part of the reason Simon was messing up the words was because of all the techincal problems, the band or himself maybe not being better prepared, and well he is Simon and after 22 years of being a fan and this being concert #25 for me, I am used to him messing up words....LOL!! Although I can see how people can get annoyed at that, especially at a show like this one - where it was supposed to be a "special concert", it didn't bother me. I was still dancing my ass off.
"Sunrise" was a total mess in which there were the most screw ups and it wasn't Simon's fault this time! There were a lot of techincal difficulties during this. It started okay briefly but then it went downhill from there. Simon was singing one thing but the "back up machine" as I call it (I don't know the name of it, sorry folks; and no I don't mean the synthesizers - although that was part of it) was doing something else (it was out of synch or something) and my Duranie pal said there was way too much bass being played and not much of anything else heard. Simon tried to play catch up at first, but then just stopped singing because everything was fucked up. They added that cadential extension to try to make up for it as well. However, sorry gang, Simon wasn't to blame for this one. Blame the techs and the people who set up the stage!
There was also problems with Nick's keyboards at the show. Apparently they weren't set up right (now I didn't notice this, but my Duranie pal said he started talking to someone because it was backwards or something. I was too busy looking at Simon and John to notice at that point....LOL!). So for some people to blame Simon for everything is just not fair, IMO. They gotta also put the blame on the technical people. They messed up too that night. Next time, set Nick's keyboards up correctly!
I think for a "fans only" show; and apparently a lot of us think the same way, the band should have been more prepared. Now, granted, they can't control techincal difficulties (although that should have been checked since we heard some of the sound check that day - stupid techs); but anyway for the price we paid for the tickets we should have had a better show (and a better venue - The Hammerstein sucks). As I have said, this is my 25th show and if you have read my past reviews you will see that they have done much better. The overall sound at the Hammerstein from where I was standing wasn't that great either (but we were by the speakers). Simon even mentions that the Hammerstein wasn't exactly their best performance either in his recent post card posted on the Duran Duran Official Site. John said at the show that Nick said that this was the worst Duran Duran concert they ever played. I wouldn't say it was their worst, but it certainly wasn't great and it wasn't too bad that the same time. I would say it was an okay show. A lot of people were upset that they got an "okay" show instead of a "great show" because of the prices we were charged for tickets and some of them travelled from other countries and other states to see them (I was one of those people who came from another state but I'm an hour away from the city). I can totally understand that. I feel especially sorry for the VIP people who paid nearly $400.00 for tickets (and anyone who purchased regular GA tickets on Ebay or Graig's List which people were charging way more than what we paid). Personally, I think there should not be VIP tickets for a general admission show but that's just my opinion. VIP is fine for anything else but general admission.
Simon even gave out drinks at the end of the show (which I am still wondering what the purpose of that was) and took one for himself. I think the drinks were either for the birthday girl and her friends or he either lost a bet. Either way, I would want a drink too after the night's performance (and I don't drink)!
However, despite that, I'm one of the few people that did have a good time. I really enjoyed hearing "Night Runner" live - that was the best part of the show for me. They did a really great job with it! Also the best part was meeting new Duranies, seeing some I already knew, and having a nice "listening party" in the beginning (hearing their first five songs from their CD. Studio versions of "The Valley", "Red Carpet Massacre", "Night Runner", "Skin Divers", and "Box Full of Honey"). Although I thought it was kind of weird but funny how the boys came out (15 minutes late) and Simon was like "hi, we thought you would like to hear a few new tracks because you are very special and that's it we'll see you later", and then they walk offstage....LMAO! I was thinking they were going to play some new live stuff. I wish there were more live versions of their newer material, but I was happy with hearing "Night Runner" (and I still can't get that song out of my head - it's going to be a hit)!
However, we are never ever doing a General Admission show again. That was insane! If we HAVE to do another general admission show, if there are balcony seats, that's what we're taking. We were both feeling it after the show from standing out there for so long. Not only that but the mad rush to the merchandise table was ridiculous as well (another reason NOT to do general admission because everyone waited until after the show to get their merchandise). There was only one table and what seemed like ten million fans pushing and shoving their way to the table.
Oh and by the way, I ended up only getting about 1-2 hours of sleep because the next morning I receive a phone call asking if I could come in that day to sub.
I am still looking forward to the new album (even more now after hearing the new songs) and I am ready for another tour. Long live Duran Duran! Again I really enjoyed the show!
Planet Earth (Night Version) [Simon forgot the words! Not a good way to start! LOL!]
Hungry like the wolf
View to a kill
Some like it hot (Simon forgot to come in on the first verse) / My own way
Come Undone
Lonely in your nightmare (FANS CHOICE! [Not my choice though - not one of my faves])
The Reflex
Save a Prayer (Simon messed up the words here too!)
Ordinary World
Girls on film
Serious/Nice
Union of the snake
Wild Boys
Sunrise (DISASTER! DAMN TECH PROBLEMS!)
--Encore--
Night Runner
Rio
Click here to go to the photos (now let me warn you right now, they are not as close as the others you may have seen and they look better on print, but you can check some out anyway)!
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