Gary Numan materialized on March 7 at the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale, FL with an amazing set of otherworldly sounds. I fully expected Mr. Numan to deliver a robotic, synthesized, and syncopated set of songs while standing behind a keyboard, but I got something completely different.
Emerging from the shadows onto a hazy atmospheric stage covered in fog, Gary strode out flanked by his band and immediately took command. He prowled across the stage, intensely attacking his microphone and stand while his unmistakable voice carried the audience beyond the stratosphere. He and the band were relentless, never faltering in energy, skipping from tune to tune in an 18-song set concentrating mostly on new material, but also including six songs from the beginning of his career with the Tubeway Army.
The show opened with 2006’s “Halo” before immediately diving deeper into the past with “Metal” from 1979’s The Pleasure Principle. New and old songs were delivered with the same vigor and muscle. Gary didn’t speak between songs and became increasingly animated as the night went on. His guitarists dressed in menacing monks’ robes blasted out the chords alongside the signature keyboards and heavy drums. The sounds pulsed through different genres from new wave to industrial to punk, when suddenly “Down in the Park” appeared in the set, sounding as fresh and strange as when it first came out. Shortly afterward, Gary finally spoke to the sold-out audience. A quiet “thank you” was followed by the surprise introduction of his daughter Raven to sing “Nothing’s What It Seems,” a song that they co-wrote, or as Gary said, “He stole from her.” Raven delivered a great vocal as her dad strapped on the guitar and sang back-ups, a very magical moment in the night.
It was back to business after that with “The World is Not Enough” from the newest album Intruder, as the show delved back into the frenetic energy that was prominent the whole night. Instead of doing the obvious thing and saving it for the encore, “Cars” was rolled out in the middle of the set. Sparkling with all the originality and shine it had back in 1979, it sounded absolutely iconic.
The show continued its relentless pace, and with every song, Gary’s voice continued to grow stronger and his stage presence greater. He is truly a living legend. The show ended with The Tubeway Army classic “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” leaving everyone screaming for more. The band slid off the stage but quickly returned through the ether to perform a double encore of “Ghost Nation” and “The Fall,” both newer songs. Obviously pleased with the show, Gary was dancing and smiling as he thanked the rapturous crowd. One by one, they crept back into the shadows from which they came. It was an amazing show by a true pioneer, flanked by phenomenal musicians playing their hearts out. Gary Numan is no replica; he is the real thing.
Photos By Breta Branyon and Review by Angelo Pillitteri