Gary Numan @ The Forum,Melbourne (7/03/09)

Mon 9th Mar, 2009 in Gig Reviews

It’s unfortunate but when it comes to the career and music of Gary Numan, all that most people know of the man is the sporadic hits he had in the late 70s and early 80s. Granted that these hits were absolute classic tunes that helped define a fledgling genre and inspire many ‘Electronic’ and ‘Industrial’ artists. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails proudly wears the Numan influence on his sleeve and has covered the Numan classic Metal in the past.

So at their Forum gig the band hit the stage looking awfully like NIN in their halcyon Downward Spiral era. Kind of a case of the master now learning from the apprentice.

Numan and his brilliant backing band delivered in spades. Visually, the band had the look down pat and sonically, Numan poured through a lot of his amazing recent catalogue drawing cuts from Exile and the masterful, dark, brooding masterpiece that is the Jagged album. Seriously kiddies, this album is a phenomenal piece of work, and I for one, was pleased as punch to hear these tracks translated to the live environment.

Numan stomped and strutted across the stage with purpose and poise. Bathed in pure color and lapping up the frenetic adulation from a very, very receptive packed Forum crowd. The hits were met with high energy from the crowd which was highly diverse in its collective. punks, goths, metalheads all mixed in and enjoying themselves to no-end.

Melbourne’s Forum is an incredible music venue. It is such a joy witness a show there. The lighting was absolutely breathtaking and atmospheric and a perfect accompaniment to Numan’s post-apocalyptic sounds.

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS FROM THE SHOW HERE