Description
Double cd with printed innersleeves
The tour to support David Bowie’s 1997 album Earthling was originally planned to feature two separate set lists, one regular and one dance oriented set list incorporating drum and bass. Bowie had been fascinated with the style of the latter and had partially incorporated in Bowie fashion of the Earthling record, however after a performance of this concept in Utrecht on June 11, 1997, the duel set list theme was abandoned, for the rest of the tour both elements would be incorporated in to one singular performance. Bowie would use a small band for the tour, Reeves Gabrels would be on guitar, Gail Ann Dorsey was on bass and keys, Zach Alford was on drums, long time sideman Mike Garson would do the keyboard chores and Bowie would play guitar and sax. This release features a show from the International Ballroom in Atlanta on the 10th of October 1997. The sound quality has an amazing, completely three dimensional sound with a nice wide range of frequencies that sounds incredible when played loud, the recording captures the atmosphere and excitement of the live performance perfectly. A nice semi acoustic Quicksand opens the show that is quickly followed by the even older version of The Supermen. What is nice about these older songs is the band incorporated a new sound without loosing sight of the original. Perfect example is My Death, it sounds like a version you would hear in some smokey subterranean Jazz club, The Jean Genie has a Delta Blues beginning that is excellent. The new material is very well played, Bowie’s tour a couple years prior with Nine Inch Nails was an undeniable influence, I’m Afraid Of Americans is pure industrial rock at its best. Bowie has a unique ability to have the right musicians for the right projects, Reeves Gabrels has considerable history dating back to the Tin Machine project, his style is aggressive with soaring leads ala Hendrix Look Back In Anger to Stevie Ray Vaughn blues licks during Tibet. Just prior to Seven Years In Tibet, David introduces his band then has a hilarious interaction with some audience members in the front row. The Man Who Sold The World gets a major make over, like the other older songs from the early 70’s in this show, it is done brilliantly if one did not know, one would assume it was a more recent song. Gail Ann Dorsey deserves special praise for her vocals mimicking Freddie Mercury’s signature singing in Under Pressure, she captures the essence of Freddie yet maintains her own voice. Some songs do not need a face lift, Panic In Detroit is one such song, just hammer it out. Scary Monster is nice to hear, Fame is an excellent funk meets industrial version, a couple of nods to Lou Reed, early in Waiting For The Man and to close out the concert with White Light / White Heat make for an excellent evening of music. The bonus material is an acoustic performance at Smith’s Olde Bar in Atlanta six months prior, done as part of an FM broadcast, the show features an almost town hall meeting style, some question and answer along with music. The majority of the interviews are sadly edited out but all the music is here. The quality is excellent, the performance meets the same high standard. David speaks of meeting Johnny Cash and they play the most interesting version of Scary Monsters you’ll ever hear, worth the price of the set by itself. David talks about Jimmy Page prior to The Supermen, David tells of how he got the riff to the song from Page. Bowie tells of how they used the riff, named Excalibur, for Dead Man Walking. Jean Genie gets a country fried blues take like the electric version and the performance concludes with Tin Machine’s I Can’t Read.
Track list:
1. Quicksand
2. The Supermen
3. I’m Waiting for the Man
4. My Death
5. The Jean Genie
6. I’m Afraid of Americans
7. Look Back in Anger
8. Seven Years in Tibet
9. Strangers When We Meet
10. The Man Who Sold the World
11. Fashion
12. Looking for Satellites
13. Under Pressure
14. Panic in Detroit
15. Hallo Spaceboy
16. Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
17. Little Wonder
18. Fame
19. White Light/White Heat
20. Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) -from Smiths Olde Bar, Atlanta 7th of February 1997
21. Seven Years in Tibet-from Smiths Olde Bar, Atlanta 7th of February 1997
22. The Supermen-from Smiths Olde Bar, Atlanta 7th of February 1997
23. Dead Man Walking-from Smiths Olde Bar, Atlanta 7th of February 1997
24. The Jean Genie-from Smiths Olde Bar, Atlanta 7th of February 1997
25. I Can’t Read-from Smiths Olde Bar, Atlanta 7th of February 1997