Gary Numan - Wow's the audience in Oxford!

***** 

One man down and still amazing!

Gary Numan ***** is one man down tonight, with his live guitarist being way due to a family emergency and Tim Mud (Sulpher / P.W.E.I / Junkyard) moving from bass to guitar to take his place, then the bass being run of the keyboards at the back. Gary Numan is touring the UK in support of his new album 'Splinter (Songs from the broken Mind)' which the cover of has a haunting image of Gary in a Victorian outfit. Just before he goes onstage and starts his set the really cool video screens in the background flash up the logo for the new album.

Opening with 'Resurrection' off his last album 'Dead son Rising' which was one of his darkest albums to date. He then follows this with my favourite song off his new record the single 'I am Dust' which hits hard from the start to finish. This song shows that Gary still can right a really high quality single that could have been released years earlier if it wasn't for the heaviness of it. What joy for me to have one of my favourite new songs followed by one of the best old songs while I was still in the photo pit. This song is 'Metal' which has one hell of a killer keyboard line and is one of Numan's most memorable tracks, for me this is my 'Cars' the song I love and can't wait to hear.

'Everything comes down to This' is a song that could have been written by Nine inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor because it has a really NIN feel to it. The beats are similar and the whole sound really reflects on this American popular bands material. Old track 'Films' from the 1979 album 'The Pleasure Principle' has kept it's appeal but the sound has been enhance and makes it stand out even more in the set. 'Here in the Black' off the new album 'Splinter' sounds very much like music from a film soundtrack. 'The Fall' and 'The Calling' both coming off the two last albums fit really well together. While 'Down in the Park' is still really cool and spooky and Goth anthem even in 2013, but does still have it's original 80's sound to it.

'Pure' is as brilliant as normal and shows why when Gary changed his direction a bit and still kept his fan base, while still appealing to a new crowd. The title track of the new album 'Splinter' is slower than a lot of the tracks in his set and will take a little time for it's as popular as other tracks like the single taken from the album 'Love hurt Bleed' which was an instant hit. 'A prayer for the Unborn' again off the album 'Pure' is another stand out track, but still doesn't come close to the impact the song that he ends the main set with 'I Die: You Die' that really makes his performance.

They come back on for the encore that includes his mega hits 'Cars' and 'Are friends Electric', both songs that can be identified by the first chord. Also both songs have been used in so many commercials and been covered by so many different bands so Numan must be really raking it in on the royalties front from these two hits.

The last number is a strange but beautiful choice 'My last Day' which see's Numan on the piano getting personal with the crowd. Personally I would not have finished on this track but it doesn't really effect how brilliant the evening was and he did it one man down. I love Gary Numan he is one of my idols and this was one of the best performances I have ever seen him play, which just shows that he gets better with time. I can't wait to see him again.​

Gary Numan - Setlist
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Resurrection
I am Dust
Metal
Everything comes down to This
Films
Here in the Black
The Fall
The Calling
Down in the Park
Pure
Splinter
Lost
When the sky Bleeds, He will Come
We're the Unforgiven 
Love hurt Bleed
A prayer for the Unborn
I Die: You Die
------------------------
Cars 
Are 'Friends' Electric?
My last Day

Review and Photo's by Dan Devour

Check Out! the Video for 'Love hurt Bleed' Below...