18 oct 02

I DAVID BOWIE (IN MY PANTS!)

My friend Ethan, who is sensitive to beautiful people, has said that "David Bowie is ugly as sin". My music critic boyfriend, Norm, doesn't have any musical appreciation for the man. One of my brother's former employers said, "why would you want to go see some decrepit old limey fuddy-duddy?" To these people I say "Fools! You are all FOOLS!" My brother and I attended the fourth of five New York Bowie appearances (one in each borough) last night at Jimmy's Bronx Cafe. The man knows how to dress. The man knows how to rock. David Bowie performed one of the best live shows I have ever been to, ever. I saw him in 1990 at Giants Stadium during the Sound + Vision tour, and then in 1997 where he performed a full show at the GQ Man of the Year awards, but last night's show kicked so much more ass than the other two. 700+ people, standing room only. We were at most 15 feet from the stage, dead center. Bowie was clearly having a ball, grinning during the entire 2-hour performance, and his enthusiasm was hugely contagious. He told us that he and the bandmates were actually a David Bowie cover band that performs at Jimmy's every Thursday night at 8. On a couple of occasions he would inexplicably shout "in my pants!" into the microphone to either to punctuate an otherwise perfectly comprehendable sentence or just for the hell of it. He played the tune Jordan wanted to hear ("Sound + Vision") and the one I wanted to hear ("Life on Mars?") and we were both happy. He played a surprising number of songs from Low. He wore a shiny purple jacket. He looks his age, and he looks fantastic. He closed with a perfect "Ziggy Stardust". We are going to see him again on Sunday at the Beacon Theater.

SET LIST
Sunday
Cactus
Breaking Glass
Fame
Ashes To Ashes
Slip Away
China Girl
5:15 The Angels Have Gone
Starman
Absolute Beginners
I've Been Waiting For You
Afraid
Fashion
Be My Wife
Sound + Vision
Rebel Rebel
I'm Afraid Of Americans
Life On Mars?
Heroes
Heathen

Encore:
White Light/White Heat
Let's Dance
Ziggy Stardust