Duran Duran

As for Duran Duran, I guess they where ok but the sound was so bad that it was really hard to enjoy it. Keep playing DD but next time book a better venue in Austin. The "new" Austin Music Hall has terrible design, terrible sound, terrible acoustics. The worst bar setups.Reminded me of a bad frat party. They would have been much better at "The Back Yard" Seriously guys, Austin is the Music Capital, right? That place blows!

Duran Duran are back together after almost 20 years apart as a 5 piece. As a vet of over 50 DD concerts, I can say I have seen the good the bad and the ugly of Duran. From the earliest tours, it was plainly obvious that Duran are more than just 5 pretty faces. They can play. And at their best they can mix it with the heavyweights like U2 and the other stadium bands. Unfortunately they too often get reviewed by someone who can't see past the clothes, 80's trips to Sri Lanka and flash videos. But there is so much more to this band.

I had already seen them in Manchester in bad last minute seats, but still had a great time, I managed to grab myself 2 front row standing at Sheffield Arena. Arrived early and waited to be entertained.

There is something about getting there, at the front that sends shivers down your spine from the very moment your grab your spot against the rails. Opening with a new track, which sounded catchy, they launched into the classics. Say what you like, thats why we were all there.

Hungry Like The Wolf, Is there Something I Should Know, Rio, The Reflex, Girls on Film and Planet Earth were all there, with some noteable extras. The Chauffeur (always my favourite), and Nightboat were thrown in the mix with the rest and they sounded frankly astounding.

The soul, passion and magic of tracks like Ordinary World, Come Undone and Save A Prayer have a potion that is both intoxicating and uncontrived. This was not some band just stringing out the hits again.

John Strutted, Simon played the crowd like a harp, Andy just rocked, Nick pouted and Roger did what he has always done, played the drums like he had never been away.

Notorious has always been up the top with their best efforts and in Sheffield, they funked the hell out of the track. It was awesome, the best version I had ever heard.

With White lines, they got the crowd to fever pitch. I can't understand why the cover got so badly panned by the so called "experts". Just watch the crowd when they play it! They go mad. Also another gem, Careless Memories with the Manga style cartoon on the Videos.

They left the stage after just over 2 hours of absolute thrilling brilliance. I have seen Duran play without this sort of passion for the last 10 years, in Manchester and in Sheffield, it came back.

Now it is one thing getting a bunch of teenies up and screaming. Getting a bunch of 30+ people who (like myself) should know better to leave a gig covered in sweat, grinning from ear to ear and unable to speak because they have sung themselves hoarse is a completely different challenge.

The last time I saw them in 1999/2000, I thought it would be my last, they looked tired and over the hill. Just goes to prove how wrong you can be.

The new stuff? Well I thought that it sounded promising. I don't think you can say on one or two listens, but lets see what comes. One thing is sure though, the critics will still give them a panning, but after selling over 70 million records, who really can have the last laugh?

MindyG comments are of course her own. But why on earth did she go to see them.

This show was the best concert I have been to. In the last 7 years I've been to Boyzone, Westlife and Robbie Williams. The only one of these that comes anywhere near is Robbie.

I cannot claim to have been a Duranie in the Eighties myself, but this is only due to my age. I discovered the band a few years ago and while I did manage to catch the Pop Trash tour, I never thought in a million years that I would get to see the original, 5 piece line up. I was at both Manchester and Birmingham shows, and I was not disappointed. The band all look fantastic (and speaking as a true fan who bought their tickets well in advance, was mere feet from the stage and who also got to meet them in person, I believe I am a little more qualified to judge their appearance) and are twice as charismatic and sexy as other guys half their age.

While I love to hear the classic hits performed live, with verve, style and enthusiasm as always, it is also important to hear new material as I hope to hear new sounds from the best band on Planet Earth for many years to come, and boy, did they deliver. If the three new songs performed are any indication of the band's future output, then they are bound to have a long and illustrious future. These songs have been received extremely well in arenas and online, and with good reason...they ROCK.

I cannot recommend the experience of seeing Duran Duran live highly enough. I'd go to all of their dates if I could.

Sunday the 25th of April will go down as one of my days in history as far as I am concerned, I have to dissagree wholeheartedly with Mindy G. Duran Duran bounded across the stage with all the vigor they had when they were mere 20 somethings, and made me feel like the clocks had been turned back. The new songs that they performed had all the strenght and appeal that made them what they are, Icons in the modern age of popular music. They played a lot af their old hits, but the new ones were treated to the same respect and appreciation that goes with anything Duran Duran do, you dont' get a Lifetimes Acheivement Award for nothing you know. Simon did not seem all of his years and as for Andy, well can I have what he has in his drink of Tea, that man has energy. The night was a roaring succsess, the applause showed that, yes they might not have had girls screaming from their seats, but there was a lot of noise being made let me tell you! 2 hours past in 30 seconds, well it did to me. Such a shame they aren't doing more gigs, they too would be sold out. I have to ask one thing though, as Mindy G claimed not to have been a Duranie in the 80's what the hell was she doing there in the first place???

Now, I was never a massive Duranie in the '80's, although most of my friends were, but I always liked their songs (well, the early stuff, "Notorious" and the "White Lines" cover are pretty wretched) and so thought I'd fulfill one of my childhood dreams of seeing Duran Duran live.

We bought our tickets quite late in the day, and, as a result, were sat up in the rafters. I don't know whether this was a good thing, or a bad thing. Being that high up, and with no big screens like are usually present at an arena gig, it was like watching a bunch of ants. Simon initially had on a white jacket, but once that came off it was actually hard to tell where he was. I'm not certain I was bothered as actually seeing how old and fat they are now it might have ruined the old mystique. However, the atmosphere is never as good at the back end of a gig and we were subject to lots of talking through slower songs and people looking surly.

As for the show itself, it was pretty much what you'd expect from a Duran Duran show. They did all the big hits - "Rio", "Hungry Like the Wolf", "The Reflex," "Wild Boys," "Union of the Snake," etc., as well as a few more obscure classics such as "The Chauffeur" and they sounded brilliant. Despite being pretty much cheesy '80's tat they were fresh and energetic and the band seemed to enjoy playing these old songs.

The fatal problem was that, for some reason, Duran Duran seemed to think that people are actually interested in their NEW material. As in just written. Even when it's awful. Even when introduced with cheesy, long-winded stories about how this or that song was written for their children with ideas about a peaceful future with no wars, etc. With that intro we knew it was going to be bad and we were not pleasantly surprised.

So what can I say, the first half hour was fantastic and the last half hour was pretty ace and the hour in the middle was pretty much a yawn-fest of bloated rock star self indulgence. I dislike massive arena shows at the best of times, but with the right atmosphere and a well-crafted setlist that keeps the audience's attention and doesn't sandwich too many obscure tracks together they can be a massive buzz. Unfortunately, last night none of these things happened and I came away feeling the show itself was distinctly average.

But at least now I can say I've seen Duran Duran, so I won't have to shell out £35 again for them. And it means I can avoid massive arena gigs for another couple of years, if I'm lucky.