Ten months ago I awoke to the news that shocked the nation, legend David Bowie was dead. He had played a low-key gig at Rock City back in 1997, which regrettably I didn’t go to and yet now, here I am, post Brexit, post Trump, next door at the Rescue Rooms to see a tribute act. Weird how the world works.
Striding on stage in full regalia John O’Neill lovingly crafts a Bowie show to remember from start to finish, immediately creating a powerful impression physically with the red hair, elaborate clothes and spot-on mannerisms. Billed as Europe’s premier tribute act, Absolute Bowie has been described by Woody Woodmansey (the drummer from Bowie’s band) as ‘the closest to the real thing you’ll get.’
The tribute act is itself a strange thing to be, somebody else’s adulation, somebody else’s songs, and you have to be something pretty special to try to recreate the magic of a David Bowie concert. With such incredible songs to choose from, a Bowie tribute act is never going to go far wrong, particularly as the world still mourns the loss of an icon. It’s clear that Absolute Bowie love what they do, it’s their passion and they go beyond simply copying and manage to create an evening of celebration.
Arriving onstage in full Ziggy Stardust persona, for the first set our Bowie pouts, crotch grabs and poses his way through the hits such as the crowd favourite, a cracking version ‘Life on Mars?‘ plus ‘All the Young Dudes‘ and ‘Moonage Dream‘ in front of huge images of the man himself on-screen . The rest of the band are in full Spiders from Mars costume, they certainly look the part, and manage to nail the sound note perfect too.
For the second set, there is a change of persona as O’Neill, arrives on stage blonde and suited – the Thin White Duke character, for a performance of ‘Loving the Alien‘ (mask included) ‘Fame‘, ‘Fashion‘ ‘Let’s Dance‘ and ‘Ashes to Ashes’. Sticking with the hits, there are no obscure B-sides, whilst the later years are totally absent. This was purely about pop appeal, drawing from the classic albums, Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, and Aladdin Sane.
Heroes is the inevitable encore, and a suitable way to finish an enjoyable night, along with some words from O’Neill about Bowie’s spirit being in all of us this evening.
The mixed audience is made up of a range of different ages and those who have seen Bowie play live,and those, like me, who never now will, but overall Absolute Bowie are without doubt, the next best thing.
Words and photographs by Tanya Raybould
Editor
@tanyalouiseray
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