Fill your heart with love today…
BowieNetter DumDumBoy has kindly sent in his impressions of two Bowie-related events recommended on these pages. Over to DumDumBoy himself…
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COMPARISONS ARE POINTLESS – Taylor Mac at The Soho Theatre, Thursday June 3rd.
Even the start time of 9.30pm means that anticipation is heightened that little bit more. The Soho Theatre is a tin of packed sardines. Taylor’s entrance is wonderfully understated – a simple stroll from off-stage as we all slide slightly to the right to accommodate the last few ticket holders.
The look is a little Noh Theatre, a soupçon of Aladdin and a lot high camp – Ziggy’s outfits look like business suits by comparison (whoops, there I go making a comparison) The auburn Ethel Merman wig is worn back on the forehead in that nonchalant manner of a man confident in drag.
Like the NYC show the set list is essentially Ziggy in track order. And it’s an absolute blast! Taylor’s in-between-song banter is both funny and moving (including a couple of lovely email trails he recounts)
You want highlights? Well the Starman/Tiptoe Through The Tulips segway makes frightening sense! And Taylor tickling the ivories himself to perform Stephin Merritt’s ‘Asleep and Dreaming’ (ok not DB but, hell, everyone should own this track)
But the finale of Taylor with ukulele performing “Heroes” tops it all! Complete with frail audience backing vocal responses during the ‘By the Wall’ section.
Like the Michael Clark show – hearing Bowie this intimate, this dramatic only reminds one once again why he is simply the finest rock star alive.
DumDumBoy
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For those of you wondering about DumDumBoy’s COMPARISONS ARE POINTLESS headline, the show was entitled Comparison Is Violence as we mentioned in our original piece. (05.31.2010 NEWS: TAYLOR MAC’S ZIGGY/TINY TIM SHOW HITS LONDON)
I think the point that Taylor Mac was making was that comparisons are very often made in a negative way, if not as a complete put down, and he used some great examples of his theory on the night I attended.
It was a hugely uplifting show and DDB is right, as unlikely as it sounds, “Heroes” with ukulele accompaniment was quite emotional, as was Fill Your Heart. It’s the kind of show that leaves you wanting to be nice to everybody and that’s even without any chemical assistance.
Back to you, DDB…
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Michael Clark at The Barbican Monday June 7th.
Saw the show last year and (on my toes of course) headed to the Barbican for this ‘revamp’. Essentially it’s last year’s line-up. The programme titles have altered slightly – not sure why!
Still opens with the fine white noise of Wire and Bruce Gilbert. Still moves onto the VU section (complete with syringe costume)
BUT…and it’s a big but. The BOWIE section now begins with SWEET THING/CANDIDATE/SWEET THING (reprise)! For me still The Sailor’s finest moment (oh that deep baritone-like delivery…and I’d argue JUST as strong on David Live)A really nice piece (including a long metal bar that – almost – alludes to the US set design) Ending with a dramatic “Jump in the river holding hands” moment with two dancers (hand in hand) literally walking off the front of the stage and disappearing from view into the orchestra pit!
The remainder of the show is the same Bowie stuff (complete with ‘Heroes’ video completely overpowering the dancers, although I do love the shrunken leather jackets they wear as a nod to Bowie’s apparel)
Michael does wear a banana costume this time round – don’t remember that from last year!
Rather like the Taylor Mac show – Come Been and Gone’s greatest charm is allowing oneself to be immersed in Bowie’s ouvre at volume. It’s an easy statement to make but, by heck, his music STILL has the power to surprise and move one.
Dum Dum Boy
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Thanx for those DDB, much appreciated…and I’m completely in agreement with your observations too. Hope Taylor Mac doesn’t leave it too long before he returns to these shores.