"We could steal time, just for one day..."
AREA 2 - MOBY, DAVID BOWIE, BUSTA RHYMES, BLUE MAN GROUP, ASH, and more...
Tuesday, August 13, 2002
3:30PM ~ 11:15PM
Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Irvine, CA
(( Continued from this post. ))
At around 7:00, the crowd started screaming. A huge sign spelling out "B O W I E" in circular white lights was being lowered onto the stage. The curtains dropped in the back, finally shielding the backstage area from view. Lights were set up, people did sound check. The amphitheater was filling up, the anticipation level rising. At roughly 7:30, the drummer and keyboardist (forgive me, I don't remember their names offhand) took their places behind their instruments. Moments later, the crowd SURGED up as a rail thin figure dressed in a black suit made his way from behind stage right to the front of the crowd. The keyboard kicked off a gorgeous intro and the real show began.
Setlist:
(This was patched together from previous live reports and my own shaky memory. Please excuse, or better yet, correct any errors. Thank you!)
Highlights: (at least for me ^_~)
-+] Life on Mars [+-
This is what that gorgeous keyboard intro led into. The melody was changed around a little lending a new spin to an old favorite.
-+] Ashes to Ashes [+-
THIS is my favorite Bowie song. I think I first heard it when I was three years old. In any case, the melody stuck with me even though I didn't hear the song again until I finally re-discovered Bowie after college. The first time I remember hearing it was a few years ago somewhere, maybe on the radio. When it got to the refrain, I just about freaked. Something about the song was so familiar, I felt it in my bones, my subconscious. I knew it even though I had no memory of ever listening to it until that moment. In any case, I never dreamed I'd even find the song again, much less hear it live.
-+] China Girl [+-
I actually don't like this song. ^^ It's one of the two Bowie songs I've heard so far that I have trouble listening to on the radio. Maybe it was the concert high but I was actually able to listen to it all the way through. And the spotlights surrounding the stage were red and yellow.
Oh, this is also where his microphone died. Funny thing that. He stopped and requested they start over but this time, make sure they have a backup mic. Or a megaphone. "A megaphone might be good actually 'cause I've got a BIG STRONG VOICE!" XD Said pretty much in that manner. Twas hilarious.
-+] Fame [+-
Introduced as what... the "all-American" song or something? Memory fails me. *L* Again, a nice fan fave. Everyone smoking pot I'm sure was having a grand old time swaying along. ^_~
-+] Afraid of Americans[+-
This was the first time I'd heard this song. o.o I liked it muchly. o.o Must go buy Earthling now... >.>
-+] 5:15 [+-
Off the new album. o.o I liked this one too. o.o Hmm... Heathen or Earthling... >.>
-+] Heroes [+-
Hearing this live is amazing. The arrangement, the vocals... perfect.
-+] Always Crashing In the Same Car [+-
I've been told this isn't on the normal setlist. o.o In introducing the song, Bowie said this was a "request" for someone. ^^ So perhaps it was. Either way, it was a nice surprise. ^-^
-+] Let's Dance [+-
The intro to this was so drastically different from the rest of the song, if it weren't for the lyrics, I'd have never known what it was. Most of the audience didn't either apparently since only a few of us started cheering until the refrain when the entire amphitheater surged up and started dancing like crazy. This was the other song I really couldn't stand. That's changed now. *L* Amazing what a little tweaking can do. ^_~
At the end of this, Bowie and Gail got super close to each other and a light smacking sound was heard. o.o Kiss? Sure looked like it. >.> But hey, I was a few rows back so... what do I know. ^_^;;
-+] Ziggy Stardust [+-
Words cannot describe it was like being there during this song. Everyone was on their feet. Hundreds were singing along. Arms were in the air. It was incredible. Amazing. I didn't want the song to end. The whole time I kept thinking... this is what I missed about concerts. The feeling that everyone around you was going through the same thing you were. Everyone was focused on the song, the music, I felt like... I was part of something, instead of being on the sidelines. Music has the power to do that. Those few minutes... were what made the entire concert worthwhile.
Misc Notes: (Some scattered things...)
- Bowie was wearing a black suit, complete with a long-sleeved white shirt and black vest. He shed the suit jacket 2-3 songs into the set and wore the rest of the outfit the remainder of the concert.
- He joked about the outfit in the beginning saying it was either that or the shorts since it was hot.
- Scattered jokes during the set included a story about trying to find a replacement for jackalope hood ornament (I think) while driving through Nebraska and ending up with some "kick-ass peanuts" instead (just hearing him say "kick-ass peanuts" was hilarious even without the rest of the story *L*); the stylophone (sp?) ad gag; and maybe one or two more I can't remember. ^^
- He plays air guitar. XD And air drums.
- At some point, introduced his band members, guitarists first, then said [the keyboardist's name] on guitar, [the drummer's name] on guitar, and Gail who's REALLY on guitar. XD Guess you had to be there. ^^
Argh... there's probably more but I can't remember. Will post as I think of more stuff. ^^
TBC...
Moby up next... with boring post concert stuff. ^^
Tuesday, August 13, 2002
3:30PM ~ 11:15PM
Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Irvine, CA
(( Continued from this post. ))
At around 7:00, the crowd started screaming. A huge sign spelling out "B O W I E" in circular white lights was being lowered onto the stage. The curtains dropped in the back, finally shielding the backstage area from view. Lights were set up, people did sound check. The amphitheater was filling up, the anticipation level rising. At roughly 7:30, the drummer and keyboardist (forgive me, I don't remember their names offhand) took their places behind their instruments. Moments later, the crowd SURGED up as a rail thin figure dressed in a black suit made his way from behind stage right to the front of the crowd. The keyboard kicked off a gorgeous intro and the real show began.
Setlist:
(This was patched together from previous live reports and my own shaky memory. Please excuse, or better yet, correct any errors. Thank you!)
- Life On Mars
Ashes To Ashes
(bits and pieces of some song I couldn't identify ^^;;)
Cactus
China Girl
Slip Away
Stay
Fame
Afraid of Americans
Heathen
5:15
(Encore)
Heroes
Always Crashing In the Same Car
Let's Dance
Ziggy Stardust
Highlights: (at least for me ^_~)
-+] Life on Mars [+-
This is what that gorgeous keyboard intro led into. The melody was changed around a little lending a new spin to an old favorite.
-+] Ashes to Ashes [+-
THIS is my favorite Bowie song. I think I first heard it when I was three years old. In any case, the melody stuck with me even though I didn't hear the song again until I finally re-discovered Bowie after college. The first time I remember hearing it was a few years ago somewhere, maybe on the radio. When it got to the refrain, I just about freaked. Something about the song was so familiar, I felt it in my bones, my subconscious. I knew it even though I had no memory of ever listening to it until that moment. In any case, I never dreamed I'd even find the song again, much less hear it live.
-+] China Girl [+-
I actually don't like this song. ^^ It's one of the two Bowie songs I've heard so far that I have trouble listening to on the radio. Maybe it was the concert high but I was actually able to listen to it all the way through. And the spotlights surrounding the stage were red and yellow.
Oh, this is also where his microphone died. Funny thing that. He stopped and requested they start over but this time, make sure they have a backup mic. Or a megaphone. "A megaphone might be good actually 'cause I've got a BIG STRONG VOICE!" XD Said pretty much in that manner. Twas hilarious.
-+] Fame [+-
Introduced as what... the "all-American" song or something? Memory fails me. *L* Again, a nice fan fave. Everyone smoking pot I'm sure was having a grand old time swaying along. ^_~
-+] Afraid of Americans[+-
This was the first time I'd heard this song. o.o I liked it muchly. o.o Must go buy Earthling now... >.>
-+] 5:15 [+-
Off the new album. o.o I liked this one too. o.o Hmm... Heathen or Earthling... >.>
-+] Heroes [+-
Hearing this live is amazing. The arrangement, the vocals... perfect.
-+] Always Crashing In the Same Car [+-
I've been told this isn't on the normal setlist. o.o In introducing the song, Bowie said this was a "request" for someone. ^^ So perhaps it was. Either way, it was a nice surprise. ^-^
-+] Let's Dance [+-
The intro to this was so drastically different from the rest of the song, if it weren't for the lyrics, I'd have never known what it was. Most of the audience didn't either apparently since only a few of us started cheering until the refrain when the entire amphitheater surged up and started dancing like crazy. This was the other song I really couldn't stand. That's changed now. *L* Amazing what a little tweaking can do. ^_~
At the end of this, Bowie and Gail got super close to each other and a light smacking sound was heard. o.o Kiss? Sure looked like it. >.> But hey, I was a few rows back so... what do I know. ^_^;;
-+] Ziggy Stardust [+-
Words cannot describe it was like being there during this song. Everyone was on their feet. Hundreds were singing along. Arms were in the air. It was incredible. Amazing. I didn't want the song to end. The whole time I kept thinking... this is what I missed about concerts. The feeling that everyone around you was going through the same thing you were. Everyone was focused on the song, the music, I felt like... I was part of something, instead of being on the sidelines. Music has the power to do that. Those few minutes... were what made the entire concert worthwhile.
Misc Notes: (Some scattered things...)
- Bowie was wearing a black suit, complete with a long-sleeved white shirt and black vest. He shed the suit jacket 2-3 songs into the set and wore the rest of the outfit the remainder of the concert.
- He joked about the outfit in the beginning saying it was either that or the shorts since it was hot.
- Scattered jokes during the set included a story about trying to find a replacement for jackalope hood ornament (I think) while driving through Nebraska and ending up with some "kick-ass peanuts" instead (just hearing him say "kick-ass peanuts" was hilarious even without the rest of the story *L*); the stylophone (sp?) ad gag; and maybe one or two more I can't remember. ^^
- He plays air guitar. XD And air drums.
- At some point, introduced his band members, guitarists first, then said [the keyboardist's name] on guitar, [the drummer's name] on guitar, and Gail who's REALLY on guitar. XD Guess you had to be there. ^^
Argh... there's probably more but I can't remember. Will post as I think of more stuff. ^^
TBC...
Moby up next... with boring post concert stuff. ^^