dianec42

We hit a rich vein of '80s and '90s acts at the Palace Theater in Albany. In no particular order:

* KT Tunstall & Toad the Wet Sprocket
* ZZ Top
* The Beat(*) & UB40
* Gary Numan and the Psychedelic Furs

KT Tunstall was really damn good. Luckily there was an opening opening act (Vertical Horizon playing a medley of their hit) so despite delays at dinner we did not miss anything important.

Toad the Wet Sprocket was kind of meh.

ZZ Top was a lot of fun. I knew most of the songs. Boy howdy is that music a product of its time though.

The Beat & UB40 - Loads of fun, good energy. I did not know most of the songs and had a blast anyway.

Psychedelic Furs - MASSIVE disappointment. Richard Butler(**) was like somebody's creepy drunk grandpa getting out the dance moves. It was embarrassing to watch. I bought a t-shirt before the show & am having some regrets.

and finally, GO SEE GARY NUMAN IF YOU CAN, OH MY **** ***. I had no idea what to expect. It was loud, it was industrial, the lighting was like something out of Blade Runner. He played "Cars" about 30 minutes in - normally that's the point where we all think, welp, that's the end of the set then - and then he KEPT GOING for another half hour. Absolutely incredible. Super intense, amazing performance. I can't believe he's 67. He still has his voice, his moves, and his precision. GO SEE HIM. Do consider buying the $2 earplugs from his merch booth.

I should have stuck around & bought a Gary Numan t-shirt; but if there is one thing I have learned, it is that if I buy a black crewneck t-shirt I will NEVER wear it.

(*) known in the US as "The English Beat" but they are the One True Beat to me

(**) it still weirds me out that he has the same full name as a friend-of-a-friend who passed away much too young