Duran Duran: Night Two

So I have to write about Duran in Chicago. Not that I feel obligated to, but I did say I would, and I’m really trying to keep up on this blogging thing. After all, it’s good for your soul.

Brad Karl Sam and I road tripped to Chicago. Nobody else has every traveled out of town to see a show, so it was cool for them. Traveling just to see a show is something I used to do all the time, a broken habit I need to get back in to.

There was some great stuff about the second show, I’ll just post a list, then explain. Better sound, bigger stage, less rain, warmer weather, shorter people, and one really fuckin’ cool song.

So to give some more explanation, compared to the Minneapolis show, the stage was literally twice the size and the sound was awesome. My friend Jake Rudh posted a link to my first post (cheers Jake) and people were commenting…sorry Local Current just threw on some Hüsker Dü…

Anyway, Facebook comments. People were saying that the sound at the Epic depended on where you were, and if you were right up front, the sound wasn’t very mixed, it all depended on where you were in the room.

I’m calling shenanigans. When you pay $50+ (we paid $75 each) to see a international group in a club, you expect the sound to be raw but good, or at least mixed. When I see a band at First Ave., there aren’t any excuses over sound. They have good sound.

I saw a complaint about the Fine Line sound, but I have to say that must have been an off night with a bad sound guy. Everytime I’ve gone to a show at the Fine Line (or played there) the sound has been spot on. I saw The Bangles play there (major national act) and the sound was awesome. But I digress…if the Epic wants the big show, they have to learn to play with the big boys. The House of Blues sound was on. Was it perfect, no, after all it was a club. And for the stage, much more fitting of Duran Duran. They weren’t bumping into each other. But I thought it was awesome to see them on such a small stage in Minneapolis.

The crowd was happier in Chicago, it wasn’t raining and it was a good 20 degrees warmer. The House of Blues was extremely efficient at getting people into the show. We were at the end of the “Pass the Line” line, I’d estimate 200+ people. The doors opened at 7:30, and at 7:40 we were 20 feet from the stage. Not bad on entrance.

Now being behind 20+ people from the stage, I could see over everyone. They were all shorter than me. And I’m 5’9”. Chicago has some short Duran fans. (By the end of the show I was only 4 people back)

I did meet people from all over Illinois, Ohio and Michigan. Cool stuff. Every Duran show I go to, I meet people from all over. (The longest was Italy, at the Orange County show in 2003) Viva Facebook, we’re all in touch now.

The set was pretty much the same as the night before, but who can expect them to change much. They basically skipped The Reflex, playedFriends of Mine (one seriously fuckin’ cool song) in the main set. For an encore, they played The Reflex (instead of A View to a Kill) and ended with the extended goodbyes of Girls on Film.

Now I mentioned in an earlier post that the new album is still rather foreign to me, but after hearing these songs live, I really dig the new album. It gave a way better perspective of the songs.

So since this isn’t really a review of the show, just my commentary, here’s some pics. (Hey, it’s my blog)

Simon was yet again, spot on. Fuckin’ great vocals.

John has a new scarf tonight

Best shot I could get of Roger

Just love this shot.

Again, the best I could get of Nick.

Great shot of John