Got a few minutes to spare so thought I would
pen a few words on Monday nights extravaganza.
Firstly I must say how apt that the first
"proper" Devils gig would take
place in Germany, or to be more exact, Cologne,
with it's magnificent gothic cathedral and
general air of bleak ambience. The actual
venue, "The music hall" was a little
way out of the main city so shortly after
a most enjoyable visit to Colognes only?
Indian restaurant we hopped into a cab and
set off for the gig.
We arrived just before 19.00 to find a healthy crowd gathered around the tiny entrance. Everyone seemed in good spirits despite the rapidly plummeting temperatures and I was heartened by the sight of a few folks in Duran T-shirts singing loudly a few words from "World exclusive" in amongst the slightly more prevalent Gary Numan T-shirts and badges clad Germans.
Shortly we were aloud in, although I was surprised to be searched! before being allowed to proceed by the security who explained that as the gig was being recorded for the German TV programme "Arte" they were looking for potential bootleggers, which was a little annoying.
Once inside we made our way to the small stage, which was unusual as you could stand all around it, both back and front and left and right. Before very long the TV presenter came into the crowd and the numerous cameramen started to film his introduction of "Nick Rhodes, who you would have known from his work with Duran Duran and Stephen Duffy who you SHOULD know from his solo work and his excellent work as The Lilac Time", Wow, big cheers all round... I was starting to get excited!
Then, emerging through the dry ice and bright lights and lasers (Blimey, it wasn't like this at the Camden folk club! very grand!) Stephen and Nick appeared accompanied by two attractive backing singers/dancers who I later discovered were named Sylvie and Evie (I think.) Nick settled down in front of his keyboards, I tried to get a better view past the cameramen and Stephen announced "Listen to the voice of Buddha" before the opening bars of "Memory palaces" sounded out. Pretty impressive, I became aware of the screen behind the stage showing all manner of psychadelic images which perfectly captured the mood of the evening. As "Memory palaces" drew to a close, Stephen announced that they had wrote the next one when they were twelve, and it was called..."Arthur" according to someone just behind me... "Yes, its called Arthur" agreed Stephen and then the most haunting synth sounds of "Aztec moon" set the hairs on the back of my neck on fire! I cant really describe how good this was sounding,those wonderful layers of sound and Stephen's pure voice, heavenly, just heavenly and the lights and videos, lovely stuff. As the crowd cheered and clapped at the songs fade, Stephen told us that they were only 2 of the 2 million who had been on the anti war march back in London at the weekend, and that they had written the next song aged 6! The Psychadelic video board started up and was joined by the lengthy intro to "Signals in smoke".
By now I was taking it all in, Nicks intense concentration as he conjured up the melodies, the girls singing and dancing,and the fact that Stephen seemed to be REALLY enjoying it all.
Next up was "Come alive" but prior
to that Stephen announced that he might be
moving house soon, "where to?"
asked Nick through the vocoder on his synth,
"London bridge" or maybe "Cologne"
replied Stephen, because it "Smells
so nice". During "Come alive"
the video screen showed clips from the forthcoming
(we hope) DVD/video and when it finished
Stephen announced that we might be "hearing
that one again soon" as the TV people
weren't happy with that take. "Dark
circles" was greeted with a huge cheer
and again the lasers flashed, the screen
showed the video and Stephen, well Stephen
was just PERFECT!
After the final notes melted away, Stephen announced that they were thinking of taking up stand up comedy shortly and then apologised to people who were positioned to close to his amp.(Hiya Noell!!) The it was the highlight of the evening for me,"Big store" is the most Warholesq Devils song and Nick reminded me of the great pop artist with his blond locks as he played and Stephen knocked out that great guitar riff. But now a dilemma, should I watch the event happening live in front of me or cast my eyes to the screen which was showing the boys pushing trolleys around a large department store (Harvey Nicols?) in the end I went 70-30 in favor of the real event and decided to sing along also!
Stephen announced that it "was to be
the first single...and that it might still
be. Before performing "Barbarellas",
Stephen wanted to dedicate the song to someone
they first saw at the Birmingham club many
years ago..."Joe Strummer" which
received a mighty cheer from the crowd. "Barbarellas"
played life is just beautiful, Nicks synths
are gorgeous and Stephen and the girls harmonised
so lovely together.
Almost time to go now, but before beginning "The Tinsel ritual" Stephen tells us that he and Nick "made a pact back in '79 that whenever the world was in danger or in crisis they would play a set of electronic nonsense to save the world!" He added that he wanted us all to sing along with him on this number. The song began and as the synths peaked, Stephen started to sing, very softly at first, "We shall overcome, give peace a chance, everybody had a good time..." and then he and the 2 girls started a bizarre "android" dance with arms and legs open wide in the shape of a star. It might sound silly but as Stephen sang his peace mantra and Nick dazzled us with his layers of sounds and the video screen conjured up its myriad of images, it was truly moving. After this extended version, it was time for Stephen to thank us all for coming and then he and Nick and the Girls left the stage.
I managed to meet up with him in a corner and as he signed autographs and record sleeves(Unkiss that kiss, I kid you not!) I got him to pose for a photo and thanked him for such a great evening, which I repeated to Nick and the girls, one of whom commented on my Devils T -shirt! Them a unexpected bonus, it seems that the TV people were unhappy with the versions of "Aztec moon" and "Come alive" so they were both played again, I was in heaven!
Finally it really was the end, we talked
to new friends briefly and then decided to
leave before Mr Numan's set. Sitting in the
cab, driving back through Cologne's freezing
night, I admired the Roman buildings and
numerous churches of this fine city
and thanked my lucky stars that I had bothered
to make the effort to travel to see this
superb show, it had cost a lot of time and
money but it was all totally worth it.
Sorry to go, so much but I hope nobody minded
too much! and that you all enjoyed my review.
Lets all hope that Arte does show it on May 6th.
Graham (photos are also taken by Graham Buxton)
SETLIST
Encore (for the German TV, who were not happy with the initial take)
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