Second night at the Shrine

It was back-to-work Monday for Bowie and the band as well as the audience. Monday night’s crowd was a little less reckless than Saturday’s but no less appreciative. The torrential downpour just before show time may have dampened our clothing, but not our spirits. After a day and a half of rest, the band was a little slow to warm up, but by the time “Fame” rolled around in the early minutes of the show, things started groovin’.

Bowie started the show as usual with “Rebel Rebel” and “New Killer Star”, but it wasn’t long before he was changing things up and surprising even ardent fans. A striking acoustic rendition of “Loving The Alien”, the dynamic “Battle For Britain” with it’s stereo dueling guitars, and a lively “Starman” were just a few of the gems Mr. Bowie offered his audience. “Looking For Water” from Reality, ‘80s super-single “Blue Jean”, and a breathtaking encore of “Bring Me The Disco King” rounded out the songs not included on Saturday’s set list.

For me, the greatest treat of the evening was the jazzy “Bring Me The Disco King” to start the encore. Sitting on the raised rear platform in a new burgundy velvet blazer, his shadowy bangs covering his eyes in the subdued lighting, Bowie looked strikingly like his “Sweet Thing/Candidate” from the 1974 Diamond Dogs Tour.

He does look remarkably well these days, his carefully chosen stage movement the epitome of suave sophistication. He was also wearing a new t-shirt. I couldn’t quite make out what it said.

By the time the concert ended, so had the rain. And we stepped out into the chilly, damp air…back into Reality.