Live Review

Ziggy Played Guitar @ The Foundry

Ziggy Played Guitar was a night for charity, appreciation, and even mourning, but above all it was a celebration of an artist who inspired generations of people. The eclectic mix of punters at this sold out event is testament to the reach David Bowie had. There are people of all ages, musical interest and background at The Foundry, all connected by a love of one of the greatest musicians in history. It’s early on a Sunday night but the venue is already buzzing, there’s been no word on the set lists and no one wants to miss their favourite tune should it appear earlier in the evening! The bill includes local artists INIGO, Emma Dean, WAAX, Ed Guglielmino, Shem Allen, MKO Sun, Born Joy Dead and The John Steel Singers, not to mention the large number of guest vocalists and soloists who join the bands throughout the show.

INIGO open the night with a half hour set that spans the entire Bowie catalogue. Her shocking pink hair, sparkly gold dress and glittery makeup are the perfect homage to the man himself, her bright blue eye shadow is a sneaky nod to Ziggy’s makeup. It may be early in the night but front woman Erin Fitzsimon’s rendition of the title track from Bowie’s last album, Blackstar remains one of the highlights of the whole event. Joined by Joe White of The Jensens for a soulful rendition of Rock n Roll Suicide who then makes way for fellow band-mate Nathan Kendall who joins Erin for Fill Your Heart. Tribute nights can be a tricky beast, on the one hand you want a big finale, but on the other you need spread out the popular songs, so it was a pleasant surprise when Joe returned to sing a duet with Fitzsimon on Changes, the first of many tracks from Bowie’s 1972 album Hunky Dory.

Straight off the back of her performance at a Bowie tribute a few weeks ago, Emma Dean is in her element with a beautiful rendition of Life On Mars. Local legends WAAX put a hard rock slant on Heroes and Rebel Rebel. Front woman Marie DeVita packs quite a punch, throwing herself (quite literally) into the songs and giving them a whole new lease on life. Ed Guglielmino teams up with Shem Allen for a selection of songs predominately from the early 1970s including Andy Warhol, Ziggy Stardust and Starman, for which they are joined by Mel Tickle on vocals.

MKO Sun are quick to make a strong impression thanks mostly to Hannah Macklin’s vocals. She’s a powerful singer and her mesmerising stage presence serves to reinvigorate the long evening. After opening with Bowie’s 1983 hit China Girl, Macklin makes way for Spencer White of Morning Harvey, who joins the band for Moonage Daydream. There are some welcome surprises in terms of song choice too. It’s so easy to make tribute shows all about the classic hits (and it’s not like Bowie doesn’t have enough to go around), but MKO aren’t afraid to dive into his late 90s catalogue with songs such as Thursday’s Child before channelling some Brian Eno to finish with the epic I’m Afraid of Americans

Born Joy Dead give us a stirring rendition of Bowie’s most recent single, Lazarus, the now painfully self-aware opening lines, “Look up/I’m in heaven now,” more poignant than ever. Front man Ben Dalton also does a good job of Suffragette City, from 1972’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, though he’s sadly sans bright orange hair for the occasion! 

All too soon it seems the end of the night is drawing ever closer, and as The John Steel Singers take the stage, punters are busily ‘doing the math’ to figure out which hits are remaining. Dean McGrath of Rolls Bayce fronts the band for Fame and Young Americans, while Joe Agius of The Creases puts on one of the best performances of the night with Let’s Dance. Spencer White made his second appearance of the night, joining The John Steel Singers on vocals for an excellent version of Ashes To Ashes. The big finale comes in the shape of a mass-sing-a-long of Starman. And with that, Bowie fans head off into the night, humming tunes under their breaths and no doubt reflecting on the life of one of the greatest artists of our time.

- Clare Armstrong

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