Eight years ago on January 16th 2004, I took my now wife to our first concert date. I met her right before Christmas and had a feeling about her. In discussions she had mentioned how she loved David Bowie and on Christmas day, my eyes were attached to my computer screen as I was bidding on a pair of tenth row tickets to David Bowie's third and final night in Chicago at the Rosemont Theatre (to the sticklers, the show was technically in the suburb of Rosemont). I won the auction for below face and proceeded to tell her II was taking her out that night but didn't tell her specifically what we would be doing.
Read all related David Bowie reviews HERE
Needless to say, in the coming weeks, she asked me about it non-stop. One of her girlfriends had the horrific notion that I would take her jousting to Medieval Times. Re-enacting scenes from The Cable Guy was not on the agenda but a date with the Thin White Duke and Ziggy Stardust was. Needless to say, she was thrilled with the choice of an evening with a music legend. There were a few things neither of us knew that night.
First and foremost, it was the first of what has been hundreds of concert experiences. I couldn't ask for a better plus-one and she doesn't just accompany me to these experiences, but she partakes, dissects and enlightens me as well with her insight. I'm glad this was our first show together as I'll cherish the memory of it forever. More importantly, I can't wait for our next adventure, alas we'll always cherish Bowie as our first shared concert experience.
Secondly, never in my wildest imagination did I think Bowie would whip out a thirty-one song set covering his entire career. It was the longest show of his tour to date and I believe only a handful of other shows came close. It still stands as one of the greatest concert moments of my life. I have rarely seen a musician so at ease and happy with himself and his music but there was sense of accomplishment and drive in the performance. He was at peace with his past but with his eye on the future.
Lastly, no one knew that within six-months Bowie would venture into a retirement where barely a whisper would be heard from him for eight years. I never imagined he would pull a disappearing act like this especially with him delivering a pair of albums in 2002 and 2003 that are among his best. In short, Bowie was at the top of his game and he was winning over new and old fans once again. I miss him. I still have his old albums and dive into them once a year discovering something novel and intrinsic within, but I miss the sense of adventure that followed Bowie everywhere he went throughout his whole career. He was and still is one-of-a-kind. He is a true artist. I still need him in my life and until the day where he decides the time is right, I'll live with the memories. He may never reappear or create new music and if that's the case, the best I can tell him is "thanks for the memories".
- Read my "Unforgettable Gigs" article on David Bowie HERE over at antiMUSIC
- Read the same review here on this blog.
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