Thursday, July 23, 2009

Lovebox






Here was the Duran Duran review I gave within my Lovebox Festival review from http://popnylon.blogspot.com/




Duran Duran's set was slightly shorter than two nights prior due to sharing the bill with the other acts. Simon Le Bon comes out wearing a top hat and Nick Rhodes had his walking stick due to a leg injury(They reminded me of Charles Dicken's characters). The opening song was "Wild Boys" followed soon by "Hold Back The Rain." The sound was perfect as Le Bon didn't forget any lyrics. Most of the audience sang along to most of the hits and as a good surprise, the band wound up playing Arcadia's Election Day. The set was very smooth without much incident for a nice change. By the end, the "Special Guest" Mark Ronson, who is producing their next album, came out to join in for a new arrangement of "A View To A Kill." Ronson's smugness suggested he demanded some respect which I don't really think he deserves at this point. While the song was great with an intro featuring a complementing string section, the sound levels of the brass section drowned out Le Bon at times, but his white dinner jacket assisted to bring the attention back to him. All in all a great performance with a few minor complaints not worth dwelling about.
Reporting for this website, I'd have to add that Election Day had a great arrangement. I'm unsure if the Chauffer was heard at other shows but this was the Simon/Nick moment of the night along with Roger on Drums(who did play on the 1985 Arcadia album and briefly did some print PR but didn't appear in the music videos).

My camera decided that this was the time to die on me! However, I did get to take a few pictures and videos. http://www.youtube.com/magicmeri

Thursday, June 11, 2009

The List of Insanity(or Duran Duran live events I've attended...)


Blog via popnylon.blogspot.com and dynamicduodurans.blogspot.com: While hesitating to go to the dentist, I started to think about going to see Duran Duran this summer in London. Then, I started trying to approximate how many shows I've gone to and then had to start a list. Finally, a blog that is totally fun and crazy at the same time without much self-reflection....
Summer 1999- PNC Bank Arts Center, NJ-Let It Flow Tour
Summer 1999- Jones Beach, Long Island-Let It Flow Tour
Summer 2000- Downtown Disney, Florida-1st night of Pop Trash Tour
Summer 2000- Downtown Disney, Florida-2nd night of Pop Trash Tour
Summer 2000- Jones Beach, Long Island- Pop Trash Tour
Summer 2000- PNC Bank Arts Center, NJ- Pop Trash Tour
Summer 2000- Boston, Mass- Pop Trash Tour
Summer 2000- Conneticut-Pop Trash Tour
Summer 2003- Webster Hall, NYC- Reunion Show
December 8th, 2003- Borgata Hotel show
April 2005- Madison Square Garden, NYC- Astronaut Tour
Summer 2005- PNC Bank Arts Center- Astronaut Tour
Summer 2005- Jones Beach, Long Island- Astronaut Tour
June 2007- Hammerstein Show-Fan Club Concert
November 2007-Barrymore theatre, Red Carpet Massacre on broadway
November 2007-Barrymore theatre, Red Carpet Massacre on broadway
Novemer 2007-Roseland Ballroom, Red Carpet Massacre on broadway
May 2008- Philly, PA- RCM tour
June 2008- Central Park, RCM tour(whichever night it didn't rain)
July 18th, 2009- Lovebox festival, Victoria Park, UK
March 2011-Shepard's Bush, London-Nosebleed section
December 2011-O2 London floor row 5 center(awesome awesome awesome)
July 2012-Hyde Park, Olympics Opening Ceremonies

Live Appearances(various)
October 1997- Virgin Megastore Times Square signing- Medazzland Album
October 1999-Vh1 hard rock live taping(studio, nyc)
December 1999- WPLJ NY concert, times square ny
early 2000- The View standby line(didn't get in, but we saw someone in carpark)
early 2000- Vh1 studios, Nyc- photos & autographs with Simon and Nick
early 2000- Virgin Megastore Union Square- Signing and mini show for Pop Trash
early 2000- live on NBC Today Show, NYC- 3/4 songs
early 2000- CBS Saturday Early Show, NYC
summer 2000- Virgin Megastore Orlando signing
December 2003- Met Simon, Nick, Roger, Giovanna, Andy,& Dave(saw Meredith, John)
Fall 2004- Z100 Ny radio(I won a contest prize and was on radio-long story)
Fall 2004- Met Andy Taylor in NYC
October 2004- Friday Night w/ Jonathan Ross, BBC taping
winter 2004- Carson Daly NYE outdoor taping
February 2005- Good Morning America ABC taping
April 2005- Conan O'Brian NBC taping
either 2005 or 06?- watched arrivals for Fashion Rocks outside, met Billy Idol
November 2007- during RCM on broadway shows at venue outside-Met Simon, Nick, Roger and 4 signed program(got friend to get John's sig, did not meet)
September 2012-London, John Taylor Book Signing

I may have forgot a few things and will add if my memory improves!
It's amazing I still have money left, but have you seen what Nick and Simon look like?