Gary Numan performing during the Moral Hygiene at Emo's Austin in Austin, Texas on May 26, 2023. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)
May, 1979. It’s an ordinary Thursday evening, which means it’s time for Top of the Pops. Amidst a zeitgeist of punk and disco, the show suddenly appears to be interrupted by a transmission from the future. A luminous synth riff echoes out, a beat drives on and upsteps an otherworldly figure - part robot, part alien - to deliver an enigmatic lyric depicting some kind of android existence in a dystopian future. It’s Gary Numan fronting Tubeway Army for their breakthrough hit ‘Are ‘Friends’ Electric?’.
Of the millions that are watching, few would’ve recognized that this moment foreshadows the shape of music to come, from synth-pop to industrial and alt-pop. That, however, can’t stop it igniting the imagination of an audience that would swell into a devoted following.
To keep it very short, simply the best performer I have had the privilege of seeing and meeting. Sublime, extraordinary. If I could replay a day in my life history.Setlist for the show at Emo's Austin
Great show! Amazing energy!
From the first beat to the last, Gary Numan rocked out! Was probably one of the best live performances we've seen in a long time! I would see him again in a heartbeat.
My gosh this show was amazing. He sounded great and was quite spellbinding. The band was fabulous.
I have waited most of my life to see Gary Numan in concert. What a treat to see him and in a venue that gave me the opportunity to see him up close. It was a lively set, and he was very animated. Great sounding, great lighting. Really fun.
- Intruder
- Halo
- Pure
- Everything Comes Down to This
- Metal
- Here in the Black
- Cars
- Haunted
- Love Hurt Bleed
- The Chosen
- My Name Is Ruin
- A Prayer for the Unborn
Gary Numan shared the stage with Ministry and Front Line Assembly at Emo's Austin. They continue across the United States, Canada, and Europe with the last stop at the Hackney Church in London, UK on October 17, 2023.
Gary Numan
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Photos by Ralph Arvesen
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