Last Thursday night, I caught Roxy Music at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne. Roxy Music were in town as part of their For Your Pleasure world tour. The band came onstage at 8.30pm, and played a blinding 100 minute set comprised of many of the band’s hits and fan favorites. Up onstage, the four original members; guitarist Phil Manzanera, vocalist Bryan Ferry, saxophonist Andy McKay and drummer Paul Thompson were augmented by extra members including a 22 year old guitar wiz kid Oliver Thompson on guitar and Tara Ferry – Bryan’s son – on percussion.Last Thursday night, I caught Roxy Music at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne. Roxy Music were in town as part of their For Your Pleasure world tour. The band came onstage at 8.30pm, and played a blinding 100 minute set comprised of many of the band’s hits and fan favorites. Up onstage, the four original members; guitarist Phil Manzanera, vocalist Bryan Ferry, saxophonist Andy McKay and drummer Paul Thompson were augmented by extra members including a 22 year old guitar wiz kid Oliver Thompson on guitar and Tara Ferry – Bryan’s son – on percussion.
The band walked onstage to the instrumental backing tape of India and took their positions before kicking off the set with The Main Thing. The first few songs blitz the crowd and each is applauded by the appreciative audience. Most the audience remain seated until mid way through the set, where things picked up and once the riff to Same Old Scene echoed through the arena, the crowd are on their feet dancing. Lets Stick Together really pumps the crowd to new heights of joyful participation. The group performs their entire set against a backdrop of ever changing visuals with the band members themselves, blended into the visuals at various points throughout the set. During the final song, For Your Pleasure, the band, one by one, each leave the stage waving goodbye as they each walk off stage, starting with Bryan Ferry right through until pianist Colin Good is the last to walk off, with the echoing last strains of sounds emanating from his piano. It’s a magnificent finish and a perfect way to end the night and bookend a superb performance.
Setlist for the night was:
India (tape, for walk on) – The Main Thing – Street Life – Pyjamarama – Prairie Rose – If There Is Something – More Than This – Jealous Guy – Like A Hurricane – 2HB – n Every Dreamhome A Heartache – Tara – Bitter Sweet – To Turn You On – Same Old Scene – My Only Love – Virginia Plain – Love Is The Drug – Editions Of You – Do The Strand -Avalon – Let’s Stick Together- For Your Pleasure.
After the show, I had been invited earlier by Phil Manzanera to meet him and the band. So with my buddy Peter Hodgson, we’re both soon ushered in backstage with only a handful of other guests to a waiting backstage room where drinks are given out while we’re waiting. Soon after, some of the band, start filtering through the room including Phil Manzanera. We greeted each other and then chatted for awhile, with Phil informing me about how much he likes my instrumental track Travellin’ West. The conversation then segues into the guitars he’s using on this tour, how the tour itself has been going and how he is enjoying spending his days between shows, exploring the vast Australian landscape. But all good things eventually come to an end and so it wasn’t long before it was time to head home.
Many thanks to Claire Singers and Phil. Check out Phil’s website: http://www.manzanera.com As well as Roxy Music official website: http://www.roxymusic.co.uk
