Gary Numan Performed Live at Madrid Theatre in Kansas City, MO on September 11, 2018
British new wave musician Gary Numan performed live in concert at Madrid Theatre in Kansas City, MO on September 11, 2018 in support of his new album, “Savage (Songs from a Broken World)” (2017). The electronic music pioneer started his career as the lead singer of Tubeway Army before embarking on a solo career in 1979. His hit singles “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” (Tubeway Army) and “Cars” (solo) topped the UK chart with the latter bringing him the greatest success in the US. This new record entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 2, thus attaining his highest chart peak since 1980.
A few songs off of Numan’s latest release made the setlist along with several earliest and later career. Included were that biggest hit from the Tubeway Army era and others from the “Replicas” (1979) album plus that internationally solidifying solo hit so synonymous of the decade and more off of “The Pleasure Principle” (1979). It was his first appearance in Kansas City in several years where he had a full-sized stage in which he could fully exonerate his eccentric persona. Madrid Theatre was the quintessential nostalgic setting for the outing and he systematically took the KC-strong cult following to a whole other place in body, mind and soul.
When the final note of the encore hit and Gary Numan walked off stage, seemingly not a single person in the crowd left nor moved an inch. Totally mesmerized, it was literally like “Night of the Comet” as everyone gazed in amazement. The incessant industrial rock beats, spellbinding synth-pop sounds and exclusive voice ostensibly whisked fans away to some astral place from which they simply desired to remain.
Setlist for Gary Numan at Madrid Theatre in Kansas City:
“Everything Comes Down to This,” “Metal,” “Halo,” “Films,” “Bed of Thorns,” “Down in the Park,” “Pray for the Pain You Serve,” “My Name is Ruin,” “Here in the Black,” “Cars,” “Mercy,” “Love Hurt Bleed,” “Me! I Disconnect from You,” “When the World Comes Apart” and “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?”; Encore – “The Fall” and “A Prayer for the Unborn”
