Review by Ira Kantor
On one of Roxy Music’s more underrated songs, “Same Old Scene,” enigmatic frontman Bryan Ferry slyly croons the opening line of, “Nothing lasts forever of that I’m sure.”
While this sentiment is obvious, it also reminds us just how fleeting the UK group’s 50th anniversary tour, currently trekking along the East Coast, actually is in real-time. Frankly, part of me is still amazed this is even happening. At first, I thought things would officially end with the group reuniting (with most of its core members) and performing for their 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Now we’re all striving to catch this type of live artistic lightning in a bottle before it melts the glass.
At Madison Square Garden on a balmy and rainy Monday night, the lightning certainly had its flashes of brilliance when it came to both Roxy’s musicality and style (ooh la la to the suits guitarist Phil Manzanera, saxophonist Andy Mackay, and Ferry draped themselves in). However, it’s simply too difficult not to hear how the lightning has withered some in the form of Ferry’s vocals. His voice hasn’t lost its seduction; rather its emotive lilting tenor has given way to a lower-octave, smoky whisper ─ one that both recalls Leonard Cohen in his later recording years, and one that unashamedly passed the torch to a trio of hearty backup singers to sing upper register notes Ferry simply isn’t hitting anymore.
Still, Roxy proved determined to come out just as feisty and colorful as they had in decades prior. After a dazzling, expressive 45-minute set from the equally enigmatic Annie Clark/St. Vincent chock full of strobes and color, crowd interaction (including wearing one audience member’s baseball cap), Mick Ronson-esque guitar greatness, and enough odes to NYC to make the city’s tourism board salivate, members sauntered on stage to the strains of “India” (from 1982’s Avalon) to officially kick things off. The band’s first song was its first song on their eponymous debut album, “Remake/Remodel.” Knowing perhaps all too well how much their glam days are behind them, the group instead made phenomenal use of striking visuals, including video technology and lighting, incorporating everything from drive-in move imagery for “Oh Yeah (On The Radio)” to giant playful Warhol silkscreens for “Editions Of You.”
Though Roxy’s core is now Ferry, Mackay, Manzanera, and drummer Paul Thompson, the group has now ballooned to a baker’s dozen live for their 20-song, 100-minute set. Despite some iconic songs being left off the setlist (“Mother Of Pearl,” “The Thrill Of It All,” and “Virginia Plain” included), and Brian Eno still being conspicuously absent from the band (yes, I know he only played on two Roxy albums), the band made up for these aspects with solid takes of “Ladytron,” “If There Is Something,” and “My Only One.”
Somewhat resembling a musical badger with his spiky black and grey hair, Ferry has forgone his intensive eye gazes, teeth gnashes, and white tuxedos for a more reserved stage presence. Still, this didn’t make tracks like an abridged “The Bogus Man” and “In Every Dream Home a Heartache” any less eerie and sinister. Bringing the real musical dynamism though were Manzanera and Mackay who can still solo and blow with magnum force. Avalon instrumental “Tara” served as an ambient remembrance of Queen Elizabeth before the group’s informal second half kicked into high gear with one Roxy mainstay after another. The driving beat of “The Main Thing” gave way to “Dance Away.” While “More Than This,” arguably the group’s most popular American song, had its core instrumental section removed, “Love Is The Drug” never once lost its groove and “Avalon” was simply lovely, in large part due to the vocal stylings of backup vocalist Phebe Edwards.
Though the group wouldn’t formally leave the stage, their encore consisted of the one-two punch of “Do The Strand” and their individualistic cover of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy” — officially ending things at the reasonable bedtime hour of 11 pm. While it seemed the show finished too soon, we all fortunately left the venue feeling nice and full from the hearty musical cheesecake the band let us savor.
