Gary Numan

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Gary Numan

Royal Oak Music Theatre

April 24, 2001

Gary Numan..Click the pic for a larger view

Randy Numan..Click the pic for a larger view

It's great to see Gary Numan back on tour once again. Riding on a

wave of renewed interest and critical praise for his music, Gary Numan has

proven beyond a shadow of doubt that he is a hard-working and creative

artist who has deserved the credit all along. Just ask any of the hardcore

Numan fans that showed up at the Royal Oak Music Theatre on the eve of

April 24 to check him out.

Anticipation and excitement built in the room as the lights went down, the

fog machine cranked-up, and the first dramatic sounds of the title song

from the new album PURE eased into the thick air. Within moments the

audience was treated to the explosive energy of five guys who enjoy their

work.

Numan came out hopping like a man half his age and maintained that level

the entire evening.  An enthusiastic version of Films from the Pleasure

Principle album led into the ethereal beginnings to Rip from Pure and soon

into the meat of the tune's ripping guitar lines. Even though the

obligatory Cars was sandwiched between Listen To My Voice from Pure and

Dark from the '98 album Exile, Gary and the band pulled it off with amazing

ease.

Down in the Park from the early album Replicas blended wonderfully with the

darkness of Numan's newer stuff. Down in the Park hooked me as a Numan fan

in the early '80s, and to hear it live in 2001 was a special treat for me

and most of the many thirty-somethings in the house that night.

Walking With Shadows, My Jesus and I Can't Breathe, all from the Pure

album, Metal from Pleasure Principle, and a searing rendition of A Question

of Faith from the Sacrifice album, wrapped-up an incredible main set. When

the classic Are Friends Electric and especially a juicy tidbit from the

Telekon album, Remind Me to Smile came out for the encore, the Numanoids in

the pit responded with great enthusiasm.

The dark and heavy yet wonderful tune from Pure called Prayer For the

Unborn and a quick bye bye along with a bit of a coy smile from Gary left

the audience dumbfounded and craving more.

This show probably left a few people wondering what had happened to the

sweet guy who sang Cars on the radio back in high school, and most of the

rest of us wondering where Gary Numan can possibly take us next.

I for one can't wait to find out.

Scott D. Keely

Traverse City, MI

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