Embarking on a 45th-anniversary tour for his album The Pleasure Principle, time has evidently passed – too quickly – but Gary Numan still has the presence and energy to please a sold-out crowd at Cardiff’s Tramshed. A mixture of young new fans and Numan’s original base wait with excitement for the band to enter stage right: the room is dimly lit, with an aura of purple light. On the back wall of the stage, a neon triangle – the symbol of the Pleasure Principle – is illuminated.
The band are due onstage at 8pm, and slightly late. An intro of some two minutes sees the stage gradually filling with dry ice as the crowd start to chant “Numan! Numan!” Whereupon a door backstage opens and solitary figures emerge, escorted by torchlight on the floor.
Steve Harris and Tim Slade sport gothic/punk skirt pants and heavy-duty black boots, both with shaved heads, black eyeliner and a single stripe painted from forehead to chin. As they began to play, their bodies move to the throbbing bassline exploding from the speakers; a dark, almost spiritual presence filled the room. Gary, meanwhile, comes onstage pacing back and forth as if warming up for a session in the gym, guitar in hand. Closely followed by remaining members – drummer Jimmy Von Boom and synth player David Brooks – the show has started.
The crowd love every moment as Numan’s body contorts and squats to sounds he creates. At times, his eyes stare, laser-intense, into the crowd, before a momentary cheeky smile. Set opener Replicas is closely followed by M.E., the crowd moving as one and singing along to every word. We carry on, with the energy and force of songs such as Me! I Disconnect From You, Films, We Have A Technical, Engineers and many more Pleasure Principle favourites – while the expected encores did not disappoint, Cars and Are ‘Friends’ Electric? Making for a perfect ending to an amazing evening.
Gary Numan still exhibits formidable talent and showmanship; may it continue long into the future.
Gary Numan, Tramshed, Cardiff, Tue 28 May
words and photos ANTHONY CONWAY
