by
Rob Jones
The Tramshed, Cardiff witnessed Gary Numan driving through the highlights of twenty-one albums that have spanned across five different decades. There were chart champions and album tracks that included a heavy emphasis on the nucleus of the mean and moody new work: Savage (Songs from a Broken World). This included tracks such as: The eastern hearted mechanical beast – My name is Ruin; the thumping thunder surrounding When the world comes Apart; the ethereal Bed of Thorns; the penetrating pulse that is Mercy; the mighty momentum that circulates Pray for the pain your Serve; plus, the beating bombast of Ghost Nation.
An adoring audience soaked up a unique vibe as their hero proves that he is of the past, present and ultimately, the future! However, a more senior set of Numanoids salivated over those mighty moments of the 70’s and 80’s and that meant: Metal, Down in the Park, Cars, We are Glass and the almighty Are Friends Electric? Which closed the encore of a set spanning in excess of an hour and a half. Intense and immense was the overwhelming description of this type of Saturday night fever!
Electronic enterprise, as well as industrial intelligence, provided the keys to charge a successful slot in the Welsh capital – and a diligent five-piece band fronted a stage dictated by a backdrop of ever-changing images and a vibrant light show that added to an often eery atmosphere. The sonic shaman Numan pulled a series of shapes and many of his disciples followed with waving arms and the obligatory devotion. A full house was locked into an event that was far more than just a show as this was a time for worship from a diverse set of people (led by many males) who would mostly fall into the brackets of those within the 40 to 60 years age range.
However, this was not nostalgia because Numan remains a valid force both with his recordings and performances – and, on leaving those in attendance are also looking ahead and that vision would be the see their Tubeway Army icon return to the principality in 2018.
The Full set was:
Ghost Nation
Metal
Everything Comes Down to This
The Fall
Remind Me to Smile
The End of Things
Splinter
Down in the Park
Pray for the Pain You Serve
Here in the Black
We’re the Unforgiven
Mercy
Love Hurt Bleed
My Name is Ruin
Cars
When the World Comes Apart
A Prayer for the Unborn
Encore:
Bed of Thorns
We Are Glass
Are ‘Friends’ Electric?
