• Conversations
  • Concert Review
  • New Music Showcase
  • Blues Fix
  • Inside the Cover
  • My Favorite
  • About
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
MisplacedStraws
Subscribe
  • Conversations
  • Concert Review
  • New Music Showcase
  • Blues Fix
  • Inside the Cover
  • My Favorite
  • About
MisplacedStraws
Home » A Bowie Celebration – Palace Theater, Albany, NY March 6, 2019
Concert Review

A Bowie Celebration – Palace Theater, Albany, NY March 6, 2019

By Jeff GaudiosiMarch 7, 2019Updated:May 25, 2021No Comments5 Mins Read
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

MisplacedStraws is celebrating David Bowie all year long to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Space Oddity. This continued Wednesday night with A Bowie Celebration – The David Bowie Alumni Tour at the Palace Theater in Albany. NY.  As a lifelong Bowie fan there were some mixed feelings going into the night…Will they do the songs justice? What arrangements will they pick for each song? How will the vocals work?  As soon as the music started and the incomparable  voice of Bernard Fowler filled the room all fears fell aside and the next two hours were truly a magical celebration of the genius that is David Bowie.

Prior to the show I was fortunate enough to sit with Bernard Fowler for a few minutes to talk about the tour.  Although he never had the opportunity to work with Bowie, Fowler did meet David a few times over the years (and recorded a cover of the Young Americans track Win). Bowie was known for  experimenting with different arrangements of his classics, when I asked Bernard how the band decided which era to pick from, he talked about how that was left to pianist Mike Garson and guitarist Earl Slick as they spent the most time with David, including the last tours.  Most of these arrangements seem to lean toward what was heard on the Reality Tour.  Bernard also described how he tries to get close to how Bowie sang the songs while mixing in a little of his own vocal style.  I can easily say Bernard kills every song he sings, especially the two pieces that feature just Garson’s piano and Fowler’s voice, Reality’s Bring Me The Disco King and the Hunky Dory classic Life on Mars.
Photo: Jeff Gaudiosi
The setlist was wide ranging and covered most of Bowie’s career.  It was also a great mix of the classics (Rebel Rebel, Young Americans) and deeper cuts (Station to Station, Sweet Thing/Candidate).  The night was truly about the songs and the band brought out the best in Bowie’s writing.  Garson holds the distinction of being Bowie’s longest serving band member, dating back to the Spiders from Mars and, with the exception of a short time in the late 70s-80s, was with him ever since.  Earl Slick first came during Diamond Dogs and stayed through the transition to the plastic soul of Young Americans, returning for a stint during the Serious Moonlight Tour as well as David’s early 2000’s work, his last tour and next to last record (The Next Day). Garson’s position in the Bowie cannon is well documented, but I think a show like this proves that Slick may the most underrated of Bowie’s guitar players.  He handled the different era’s flawlessly and firmly left his stamp on the night.

Photo: Jeff Gaudiosi
The band was rounded out by longtime Bowie bassist Carmine Rojas on bass, Slick’s son Lee John on drums, guitarist/vocalist Charlie Sexton who worked on the Glass Spider Tour and Living Colour vocalist Corey Glover.  Throughout the set the band used multiple vocalists depending on the song.  Fowler took the bulk of the work while Glover was the one that first got the crowd to its feet and dancing during Young Americans.  One of the great revelations of the night, however, was Charlie Sexton.  Known as Bob Dylan’s guitarist and for his own solo work, he shined as a lead guitar foil for Slick and impressed taking the vocal on a handful of songs.
The highlights were plenty, but perhaps none higher than the take on one of the few songs that did not feature any of these members on it’s original version, the emotional Lazarus off of Bowie’s final album Blackstar.   Garson, MC for the evening, mentioned how this was a hard song to play considering it’s emotional impact but the band excelled.  Sexton took the vocal and the band brought the song to new heights.  Another highlight came toward the end of the main set as Glover and Fowler channeled Mercury and Bowie for a powerful rendition of Under Pressure.
Photo: Jeff Gaudiosi
Photo Jeff Gaudiosi
Unfortunately, on a bitterly cold Wednesday night the Palace Theater was only about a quarter filled.  Those that did come were treated to exactly what they hoped for, a group of Bowie alum and fans celebrating the life and music of a legend.  Fowler is quick to point out that this show, A Bowie Celebration is different from the former Celebrating David Bowie entity and he does foresee this continuing and evolving.  One can only hope it does.  If there is one thing the world needs, it’s more David Bowie.

Photo: Jeff Gaudiosi
Setlist (Vocals):
Bring Me the Disco King (Bernard)
Rebel Rebel (Bernard)
Moonage Daydream (Bernard)
Fame (Bernard)
Young Americans (Corey)
Space Oddity (Charlie)
Lazarus (Charlie)
Cracked Actor (Bernard)
Station to Station (Bernard)
Ashes to Ashes (Corey)
White Light/White Heat (Charlie)
Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise) (Bernard)
Aladdin Sane (Corey)
Under Pressure (Corey & Bernard)
Let’s Dance (Charlie)
Suffragette City (Corey)
All The Young Dudes (Corey & Charlie)
Life On Mars (Bernard)
“Heroes” (Bernard)
Photo: Kathy Kastner
 
Share. Facebook Twitter Tumblr Email
Jeff Gaudiosi

Related Posts

Dream Theater, Toyota Oakdale Theater, Wallingford, CT 3/14/25

March 15, 2025

Joe Bonamassa, Premier Theater at Foxwoods, Mashantucket, CT, 3/1/25

March 2, 2025

Howard Jones/ABC, College Street Music Hall, New Haven, CT 2/26/25

February 27, 2025

Bret Michaels, Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT, 2/7/25

February 8, 2025
Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Archive
  • May 2025 (6)
  • April 2025 (10)
  • March 2025 (7)
  • February 2025 (9)
  • January 2025 (8)
  • December 2024 (8)
  • November 2024 (6)
  • October 2024 (7)
  • September 2024 (6)
  • August 2024 (10)
  • July 2024 (10)
  • June 2024 (7)
  • May 2024 (10)
  • April 2024 (10)
  • March 2024 (12)
  • February 2024 (9)
  • January 2024 (13)
  • December 2023 (9)
  • November 2023 (10)
  • October 2023 (8)
  • September 2023 (18)
  • August 2023 (15)
  • July 2023 (14)
  • June 2023 (7)
  • May 2023 (17)
  • April 2023 (15)
  • March 2023 (17)
  • February 2023 (19)
  • January 2023 (13)
  • December 2022 (11)
  • November 2022 (13)
  • October 2022 (19)
  • September 2022 (19)
  • August 2022 (19)
  • July 2022 (22)
  • June 2022 (22)
  • May 2022 (27)
  • April 2022 (49)
  • March 2022 (11)
  • February 2022 (9)
  • January 2022 (7)
  • December 2021 (5)
  • November 2021 (8)
  • October 2021 (10)
  • September 2021 (7)
  • August 2021 (7)
  • July 2021 (7)
  • June 2021 (7)
  • May 2021 (5)
  • April 2021 (6)
  • March 2021 (8)
  • February 2021 (7)
  • January 2021 (6)
  • December 2020 (8)
  • November 2020 (9)
  • October 2020 (6)
  • September 2020 (4)
  • August 2020 (5)
  • July 2020 (6)
  • June 2020 (5)
  • May 2020 (3)
  • April 2020 (4)
  • March 2020 (5)
  • February 2020 (7)
  • January 2020 (3)
  • December 2019 (6)
  • November 2019 (2)
  • October 2019 (9)
  • September 2019 (3)
  • August 2019 (9)
  • July 2019 (6)
  • June 2019 (6)
  • May 2019 (5)
  • April 2019 (8)
  • March 2019 (4)
  • February 2019 (3)
  • January 2019 (4)
  • December 2018 (4)
  • November 2018 (4)
  • October 2018 (4)
  • September 2018 (4)
  • August 2018 (4)
  • July 2018 (8)
  • June 2018 (6)
  • May 2018 (6)
  • April 2018 (3)

Subscribe to Misplaced Straws

* indicates required

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Vimeo YouTube
© 2025 Misplaced Straws.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.