Malahide Castle sees the convergence of two titans in pop music this evening. One is mindful of how huge Duran Duran were in the 80s, and just how many colossal hits Nile Rodgers has actually had. Duran and Rodgers have worked together on a number of occasions over the years too so it’s appropriate that they should share tonight’s concert.
Rodger’s band is exceptionally brilliant. You wouldn’t really expect anything less. There are musicians all over the stage and his two backing vocalists are knockout. The ship is full of massive talent and personality and the crowd response to the whole performance is massive.
The band run through a range of material Rodgers has written/produced with other recording artists (Diana Ross, Sister Sledge, Madonna, David Bowie, Daft Punk, Sugarhill Gang), including Chic, and he tells stories behind a couple of the songs (Madonna’s is particularly entertaining). At the start of each song they play you find yourself thinking “Oh yeah, I forgot that’s one of his too.”
Duran Duran were dismissed in the early days as a New Romantic contrivance, but despite this, they’re still here forty-five years later. Tonight is an epic confirmation of what makes them great.
They step out onto a smoke-filled, backlit stage, four of the five original members, who are then joined by Dominic Brown who’s been their touring guitarist for twenty years. Also joining them is Ireland’s own Rachael O’Connor, one of their two backing vocalists. (For the diehards out there, original guitarist Andy Taylor temporarily rejoined his old bandmates to record their last album, 2023’s Danse Macabre. Nile Rodgers also contributes.)
We get an unusual opener, a dark and moody version of Secret Oktober, the 2023 re-imagining of the 1984 Union Of The Snake b-side. There it is, that lush, atmospheric Duran sound.
Following this is a catalogue of classics, beginning with Wild Boys. We are even treated to their stunning Bond theme A View To A Kill. In the mix are also their new versions of ELO’s Evil Woman and Talking Heads’ Psycho Killer. Simon’s voice is still fantastic, as is evident in a superb version of Ordinary World.
Their encore is two of their best, Save A Prayer and Rio. Leaving Malahide Castle the crowd is buzzing and you can hear pockets of people singing snippets of both songs.
Nile Rodgers photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Le Freak (Chic song)
Everybody Dance (Chic song)
I Want Your Love (Chic song)
I’m Coming Out / Upside Down (Diana Ross cover)
He’s the Greatest Dancer / We Are Family (Sister Sledge cover)
Like a Virgin (Madonna cover)
Modern Love (David Bowie cover)
Get Lucky (Daft Punk cover)
Let’s Dance (David Bowie cover)
Good Times / Rapper’s Delight
Duran Duran photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Secret Oktober
The Wild Boys
Hungry Like the Wolf
The James Bond Theme
A View to a Kill
Notorious
Nite-Runner / All She Wants Is
Evil Woman
Careless Memories
Ordinary World
Come Undone
Planet Earth
The Reflex
Girls on Film / Psycho Killer
Encore:
Save a Prayer
Rio
Photos & words Cormac Figgis @themasterswitch