It was a beautiful Saturday night as I headed back to The Ace Of Spades in Sacramento, California. Tonight’s outing was electronic music legend Gary Numan. The house was packed tonight with a mixture of electronic, Industrial, Goth and post-punk fans. Gary Numan first rose to notoriety in the 80’s with the hit “Cars“. That track cemented him as an icon and pioneer in the electronic music scene eventually winning the 2016 Moog Innovation award. Also, in 2017, he was awarded the Inspiration award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors. Electronic music would not be what it is today without Numan.
Opening for Gary Numan was I Speak Machine. I Speak Machines is the moniker for artist. Tara Busch and her laptop. She was new to me but, I quickly became a fan. The music was solid and her performance was on point. She worked the stage like a seasoned veteran, only returning to the laptop to start the next track. Her powerful vocals drew the crowd in and set the mood for the rest of the evening. I liked this set so much that, between sets, I went to the merch booth and picked up both of the CD’s she had available.
Gary Numan hit the stage with a vengeance starting with the title track to his new album Intruder. Through out his set, he interlaced all of my favorite Numan songs. The main highlight, for me, was a heavier, grittier version of the 80’s classic “Cars”. I love the original version, however, this is now my favorite. I want to go see him again just to hear this. It was really that amazing. Other highlights included “Down in the Park”, “Love Hurt Bleed”, “My Name is Ruin” and a cover of the Nine Inch Nails “Metal”. The whole set was an onslaught of light and sound that was perfect in every way. At 64 years old, he exhibited the energy of someone half his age and his vocals were strong and unwavering. The accompanying band set the visual stage as they flowed through the songs with style and grace. This was an experience to behold.
If you can, catch a show on this tour. You will not be disappointed.
Gary Numan set list
1). Intruder
2). Metal
3). The Promise
4). The Gift
5). Halo
6). Films
7). Ghost Nation
8). Love Hurt Bleed
9). Pray for the Pain You Serve
10). Bed of Thorns
11). Down in the Park
12). Cars
13). Here in the Black
14). My Name is Ruin
15). The Chosen
16). A Prayer for the Unborn
Encore
17). The Fall
18). Are Friends Electric
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Photographer of about 10 years, I have been shooting concerts for about 8 of those years. I started to get serious about concert photography about 6 or 7 years ago and now try to shoot as many as I can. I shoot mostly rock but, have done some country and big band stuff. I love music and since I am nowhere close to being a musician, this is a way I can be a small part of what, in the words of Henry Rollins, “gets me through the highs, the lows and everything in between”.
