LIVE REVIEW: GARY NUMAN, Perth, 25 May 2014

Shane | 27 May 2014 | Reply

LIVE REVIEW: GARY NUMAN, Perth, 25 May 2014
The Astor Theatre, Perth, Western Australia
Sunday 25 May 2014
Review & photography by Stuart McKay

With legendary artists such as David Bowie, Marilyn Manson and Devo remarking on his legacy as a pioneer, and with Nine Inch Nails’ front man Trent Reznor citing him as ‘vitally important and a huge inspiration’. It’s impossible to understate the influence that Gary Numan has had on a genre that in today’s terms, is fast becoming one of the most popular among the youth of today; electronic dance music. Although he may not be traversing the electronic pop music that spawned his biggest hit Cars back in 1979, he certainly paved the way for its meteoric rise in popularity.

He has recently released the album Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind) which many are calling the best work of his career, and thankfully he decided to include Perth on his first Australian tour since 2010.

Since his initial stardom, Numan has evolved his music from electronic pop to a more menacing industrial sound and as bands like Nine Inch Nails, Orgy and Kidney Thieves play over the PA, it’s a good indication as to what to expect from the man himself tonight. As Deftones’ Change (In The House of Flies) fades out and the house lights go down, the stage is set for Numan and co to take over.

[Show picture list]

They launch into the first song with reckless abandon as Numan flails himself and his guitar around with a frantic energy and it becomes abundantly clear that he hasn’t come here to fuck around. Strutting around the stage like a cross between Mick Jagger and Bono, his commanding presence puts the audience in the palm of his hand and they don’t leave there until the end.

The band as a unit sound incredibly accomplished for the short time they’ve been playing together live and it stands to reason on songs like Are Friends Electric, which not surprisingly had the most participation from the crowd with them chanting along throughout. Of course Cars got an airing early on in the set, albeit a heavier, industrialised version of the song but however the interpretation, Cars is a timeless song that sounds almost as fresh today as it did over thirty years ago. With songs like I Die: You Die and the epic Pure, Numan demonstrates his mastery in the genre that he has gravitated to throughout the years, and to see it live is something behold.