I was at a Duran Duran concert and an estrogen-fueled mosh pit broke out. Cousins Raquel, Marcy, Jennifer and a fourth whose scribbled name might or might not be "Sally" typified much of the crowd at the Hard Rock Sunday: 30s, female and still carrying a Statue of Liberty-sized torch for one Simon LeBon.
When LeBon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, bass player John Taylor, drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Andy Taylor appeared onstage, the screams drowned out any notes coming from the '80s new-wave band's "Sunrise." It wasn't until sometime during the second song of the two-hour show, "Hungry Like The Wolf," that it became possible to hear the music—and LeBon's somewhat thin voice.
For a band that made its name with larger-than-MTV videos and fashion-model style, seeing them performing in a stripped-down show was unsettling. Forced to focus on the musicians rather than flash pots, LeBon looked increasingly freakish as the night wore on, his face taking on an unhealthy, porcelain-like sheen even as backup singer Anna Ross took on more and more of the load, until she upstaged him completely during their duet for "I Don't Want Your Love."
Duran Duran alternated songs, with tracks from last year's Astronaut followed by one of their greatest hits. Proof of the band's enduring popularity were the equally voluminous screams for both sets, with plenty of women and more than a few men singing along to the newer, harder-edged material. Also submitted as evidence: the sea of glo-sticks during "Save A Prayer" swaying in synch.
But for all of the energy the sold-out crowd directed toward the stage, all that was returned was the fizz found at a Roxy Music show, with LeBon arching waxed eyebrows and Rhodes performing his somnambulist impersonation. An exception was their three-song encore, including a terrific rendition of Grandmaster Flash's "White Lines." And the four cousins? They were last seen headed for the OG, humming "Notorious."