Venue: Jannus Live
City: St. Petersburg, FL
Date: March 08, 2026
Review and Photographs by: James Zambon (https://jameszambon.com)
Gary Numan has spent decades shaping the sound of electronic and industrial rock. His March 8 performance at Jannus Live reminded everyone in attendance why. The show doubled as a celebration of Numan’s 68th birthday (I never would’ve guessed it), and the packed courtyard in downtown St. Petersburg responded like it was a communal party for one of synth rock’s most enduring pioneers. The evening began with Tremours, who set the mood with a dark, synth-driven atmosphere that paired nicely with the headliner to come. Their brooding sound and pulsing rhythms warmed the crowd up, creating the perfect path towards the sonic intensity that would follow once Numan took the stage.
From the opening notes of “Halo,” it was clear Numan and his band were there to put on one hell of a show. Numan and his band: Steve Harris (Fox-Harris) on guitar, Tim Slade on bass, David Brooks on keyboards, and Jimmy von Boom on drums, delivered an electrifying performance that balanced decades of material without ever losing momentum. Classic tracks like “Metal,” “Films,” and “Down in the Park” sat comfortably alongside newer material such as “Everything Comes Down to This” and “My Name Is Ruin.” The band’s energy was relentless, with Harris’s searing guitar tones and von Boom’s thunderous drumming pushing the set into full industrial territory while Brooks’ synth textures kept the music unmistakably Numan. Midway through the set, Brooks came out from behind the keyboards and took the mic for a minute while Numan’s daughter, Raven, snuck up onstage with a birthday cake. Brooks led the audience in singing “Happy Birthday,” to Numan pulling the entire Jannus Live crowd into the moment. Numan appeared genuinely moved by the surprise, pausing for a moment with a wide smile and visible emotion before the song began. It was a genuine moment and a heartfelt family celebration unfolding in front of hundreds of fans. Numan and Raven went on to perform an intense version of her original “Nothing’s What It Seems.” With Numan accompanying on vocals and playing guitar.
The latter part of the set leaned heavily into Numan’s most recognizable material. “Cars” drew one of the night’s biggest reactions, while “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” closed the main set with the kind of dark, cinematic power that has defined Numan’s career since the Tubeway Army days. When the band returned for the encore, Numan leaned into the moment with a grin and a perfectly on-brand declaration: “Happy fucking birthday to me!!” The band then blasted into “Ghost Nation,” which fired the crowd up one more time before closing the night with “The Fall.” For an artist celebrating his 68th birthday, Gary Numan performed with the intensity and conviction of someone half that age. Numan is an inspiration to his peers musically and to anyone who thinks that 68 is “too old”. The show was a reminder that his music, equal parts eerie, mechanical, and emotionally charged, continues to evolve while still honoring the sounds that made him a legend. At Jannus Live, the celebration felt well deserved, and the energy in the room made it clear that Numan’s influence isn’t fading anytime soon.
SETLIST: Halo – Metal – Haunted – Everything Comes Down to This – Films – The Gift – Down in the Park – M.E. – Nothing’s What It Seems – Is This World Not Enough – Love Hurt Bleed – Cars – Here in the Black – My Name Is Ruin – A Prayer for the Unborn – Are “Friends” Electric? – Ghost Nation – The Fall
GARY NUMAN LINKS:
Some other stuff you might dig
Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries
About the Author (Author Profile)
ToddStar – that’s me… just a rocking accountant who had dreams of being a rock star. I get to do the next best thing to rocking the globe – I get to take pictures of the lucky ones that do. I love to shoot all genres of music and different types of performers. If it is related to music, I love to photograph it. I get to shoot and hang with not only some of my friends and idols, but some of the coolest people around today.