Live Gig Review
Gary Numan 45th Anniversary
Date - Sun 19th May
Venue - Nick Rayns LCR
Town - Norwich
Gary Numan arrives in Norwich on the second UK date of the current 45th Anniversary Tour of the two albums Replicas and The Pleasure Principle. One fan at the front had queued from 11 o'clock that morning to guarantee the perfect viewing position for the show. There is no limit to the dedication of Numan's fans or Numanoids, though not sure if they still like to go by that collective desciption?. For sure was that the effort to get there early did certainly provide a fantastic view of a wonderful performance.
Speaking to fans before and after the event, there were mixed feelings about the venue - The Nick Rayns LCR at The University of East Anglia which unusually was all standing throughout, though that was no problem there were some viewing blackspots. Generally most attending were positive, especially the more local visitors who look on the place very fondly and indeed why not.
The room darkens and the show begins, the stage lighting had a hint of the time these two albums were originally thrust upon us, with tubes and triangular shapes which took me back to watching those early performances with all the red and white lights which I thought was a great touch whether intentional or not.
There were a lot of songs to get through and Gary Numan did not deviate into chat between the songs but launched straight through all the 22 songs with his usual enthusiasm and stage poses. Some of these numbers hadn't been aired for a few years now, probably since previous anniversaries and there was time for a couple of the B-sides too. He was ably assisted by his two side men at the front of stage Tim Slade on Bass and Steve Harris on guitar, they both add so much to the theatrics of a Numan show with their synchronised movements a distraction from the main man for a change.
The synths and guitars were mixed to perfection for songs like M.E, Me! I disconnect from you, You are in my vision and Praying to the Aliens to sound as they did originally written in a distant dystopian empire.
Towards the later part of the set Complex was followed by Down In The Park again songs that take you to an Orwellian story of android machines and being alone against an alien world.
Gary concludes as you would expect with Cars and Are Friends Electric? the two songs he is known for maybe, though as was seen on stage they are just the entry point into a world of stories that came from an isolated imagination, who went on to compose these two classic albums released in 1979.
Photographs by Dan Reddick
Review by Dan Reddick