Mesmerising, electrifying and theatrical, Gary Numan’s return to Bournemouth proved a masterclass in electronic performance. Nearly 50 years have passed since Tubeway Army’s self-titled debut which first signalled Gary Numan’s arrival.
Gary’s musical influence is undeniable in the music industry and that influence has never faded. Decades after those early breakthroughs, Gary Numan remains a compelling live force, bringing the same intensity and stark futuristic vision that first set him apart.
In the slightly industrial setting of Bournemouth’s Old Fire Station, this was an intimate gig where you could feel every beat, move and note. The venue’s compact, no-frills character suited Numan’s world perfectly: a place where electronics met raw atmosphere, and where songs written decades ago still felt immediate, urgent and alive.
There were flashes back to those early Tubeway Army days with tracks like ‘Down In The Park’, ‘Me! I Disconnect From You’ and of course fan favourite ‘Are ‘Friends’ Electric’ which perennially goes down a storm.
However, despite spanning almost five decades, the set felt anything but retrospective. As it has throughout his career, the music felt positively futuristic, with the past and present existing seamlessly alongside one another.
The staging, lighting and sound combined with almost cinematic precision, transforming the venue into a stark, immersive world of shadow, texture and sound. The electronic music pioneer is always meticulous and uncompromising with every element of the performance carefully shaped to serve the atmosphere of the songs.
Gary Numan live….
Brooding and atmospheric, the moment Gary and his brilliant band stepped onto the stage, the entire sold-out crowd at the Old Fire Station was entirely engrossed in his world.
Fresh from celebrating the 45th anniversary of ‘Telekon’ with a dedicated tour, Gary Numan returned to the present with a set that reflected the full breadth of his career.
Despite Gary mixing things up when it comes to the set list on this current tour, he typically kicks off the 18 track dynamic set list with ‘Halo’ from 2006’s ‘Jagged’, plunging straight into the brooding, industrial sound that has fuelled his creative resurgence over the past two decades.
It was a particular highlight to hear ‘I Am Dust’, which received its first live airing in ten years. Taken from the deeply personal ‘Splinter: Songs From a Broken Mind’ (2013), it showed the enduring strength of Gary Numan’s later catalogue.
I have always loved ‘M.E’ from 1979’s ‘The Pleasure Principle’, which preceded the aforementioned ‘I Am Dust’. ‘Metal’ from the same album also was a fantastic inclusion and of course the ever brilliant ‘Cars’ which despite being nearly 46 years old still feels as progressive and futuristic as ever.
The hypnotic synth-driven riff coupled with the metronomic beat is positively intoxicating on record, but live it feels like an otherworldly experience that spirits you away to Planet Numan.
‘Cars’ was an undeniable gamechanger and captured the futuristic, synth-driven sound that would go on to shape the musical landscape of the 1980s.
But hearing it now, surrounded by the darker textures of Gary Numan’s later work, it feels less like a historical landmark and more like a vital part of an evolving artistic vision. The machinery may have changed, but the sense of drama, tension and emotional distance that has always defined his music remains intact.
To the final note, he remains a magnetic presence moving with an almost theatrical grace as his artistry cuts through the dense, immersive electronic landscape he has created.
Every note, every writhe, every nuance landed with absolute conviction, leaving the audience captivated from beginning to end. By the closing moments, it was clear that one of Gary Numan’s greatest achievements is not simply creating a futuristic sound, but making an entire room and fandom inhabit it. For two hours, the Old Fire Station became Planet Numan and the world was significantly better for it.
Photo Credit: RockstarImages (landscape and main hero image) and Lynn Francis Photography (portrait shots) – thank you so much to both for providing these amazing shots!
