Duran Duran at the Mayan Theatre - March 23, 2011

In case you haven't heard, Duran Duran did a show with David Lynch last night.  It was for the second season of American Express' Unstaged.  It was so very incredible.  I honestly felt like I was witnessing something historic.  The Mayan theatre is gorgeous and very intimate.  It was astonishing to think that the same show I was watching was being transmitted world wide via the internet and YouTube.  Considering they were doing such a thing, thi could easily have become a Greatest Hits sort of show.  Instead, Duran Duran focused on performing their new material from their thirtennth studio album All You Need Is Now.  It's a phenomenal album and I, for one, am quite happy that they played so much of the new stuff.  Of course, there were the requisite hits but they were crowd pleasers, as always.

In addition to the amazing set list, they had great guest appearances by Mark Ronson (the producer of AYNIN), Kelis (who appears on the albums song The Man Who Stole a Leopard), Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) and Beth Ditto (The Gossip).  It was just an amazing show with fantastic guests.  I feel very honored to have been able to see the show live.  And believe me, I will continue to relive the excitement via YouTube.

Now, the full set list:

All You Need Is Now (preceded by a gorgeous string intro)
Being Followed
Planet Earth (with Gerard Way)
Friends of Mine
Notorious (with Beth Ditto)
Blame the Machines
Hungry Like the Wolf
Safe (in the Heat of the Moment)
Leave a Light On
Ordinary World
The Man Who Stole a Leopard (with Kelis)
Girl Panic
Careless Memories
(Reach Up for the) Sunrise
Rio


ENCORE
Come Undone
A View to a Kill (preceded by a beautiful string rendition and Simon singing a ca pella)
Girls on Film

Finally, a few pictures from the show:

Simon le Bon

Dom Brown, Mark Ronson and Nick Rhodes' head in the background (it was near impossible to get a picture of him)

John Taylor, Simon le Bon and Roger Taylor's drum kit (it was hard to get a picture of him, too)

Simon le Bon and Mark Ronson

Everyone (except David Lynch who had seemingly transported else where)

All You Need Is Now - Finally Here

The thirteenth Duran Duran album is finally here - in its astounding entirety.  I can not stop listening to this CD! It is so amazing and so, so worth the wait! Best Buy is selling a deluxe version (extra tracks) of the CD along with a companion DVD.  Of course, this is the version I had to have! Here is the complete track listing:

1. All You Need Is Now
2. Blame the Machines
3. Being Followed
4. Leave a Light On
5. Safe (in the Heat of the Moment)
6. Girl Panic!
7. A Diamond in the Mind
8. The Man Who Stole a Leopard
9. Other People's Lives
10. Mediterranea
11. Too Bad You're So Beautiful
12. Runway Runaway
13. Return to Now
14. Before the Rain
15. Too Close to the Sun
16. Early Summer Nerves
17. Networker Nation

The songs in bold are my my favorites on the album (with the number one being 'Leave a Light On') but honestly, the whole CD is just completely fabulous! And now, I am cautiously excited about going to see Duran Duran at the Mayan in Los Angeles tomorrow night.  I say cautious because I hope there's no trouble getting in with the ticketless tickets.  If you have ever liked Duran Duran in any way, I highly recommend this CD to you.

I will be back later with a review of the DVD.  My husband and I are waiting to watch that until our girls are asleep.  That way we (mainly I) can actually concentrate on what is on there.  And, quite likely, there will be some drooling going on.  I'm just saying.  :)