Concert Review: Adam Ant 7/26/13

Today's Concert Review is of Adam Ant (and The Good, The Mad, and The Lovely Posse) when he played The Belmont here in Austin on 7/26/13.

Adam Ant. Image from Brooklyn Vegan

I've been an Adam Ant fan for a few years now and was fortunate enough to see him on tour the last time around (I forget when exactly, but sometime late 2012) when he played at Emo's East. I was really impressed by that show and loved how he played most of the hit songs everyone loves but also threw in some rarer goodies and some tracks from the new album. I was also impressed with his band and the fact he used TWO drum sets.

Upon arriving at The Belmont, I ran into a friend (who I met the last time I was at The Belmont in April seeing Peter Murphy for the fifth time). We got some decent spots towards the front, left side of the stage and chatted for a bit until the openers came on.

Prima Donna were the openers for the night. Prima Donna are a band out of Los Angeles that formed in 2003. Unlike traditional rock bands of today, the group prominently features keyboards and saxophone on most of their songs in addition to the more traditional guitars, bass guitars, and drums. The group clearly draws influence from the likes of David Bowie, Marc Bolan, and to a certain extent, even Mr. Adam Ant himself.

Prima Donna. Also featuring the amazing death hawk of a person in front of me. Picture taken by me

They played a modest set including a few songs off their 2012 album Bless This Mess (notably, "Sociopath" and a tribute to Adam Ant, "Maxine"). Throughout the set, the group maintained an incredibly high level of energy with singer Kevin Preston constantly darting from one side of the stage to the next, leaning over the crowd and getting in people's faces, and dropping to his knees only to fly back up. Overall, the group sounded great and did a nice job of getting us pumped up for Adam Ant.

Adam Ant began as the singer of post-punk act Adam and the Ants before going solo in 1982. Over the years, Adam Ant has spurned several hit singles from his albums (both as Adam and the Ants and solo), remaining a constant force to be reckoned with. While focusing on music from a young age, things haven't always been perfect for Adam Ant. At the age of 21, the singer was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has had many problems over the years handling the effects of medications used to treat the illness. While not perfect, he appears to have things under control nowadays and has always been courteous to his audience (in my experience).

A younger Adam Ant from the "Stand and Deliver" music video. Picture from jango.com

Once it was time for Adam Ant to perform, the lights completely cut out and a screen at the back of the stage was lit up with "Adam Ant and the Good, the Mad, and the Lovely Posse" and the new logo for the Blue Black Hussar himself. Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" blared over the speakers and we began to clap in rhythm to that music. The band members began to take to the stage to our loud cheers. Then we roared to life as Adam Ant took to the stage, wearing his traditional pirate-esque regalia and an attitude that said "It's time to go crazy." The group started into a song off the new album (2013's Adam Ant is the Blue Black Hussar Marrying the Gunner's Daughter), "Marrying the Gunner's Daughter."

As before, Adam Ant maintained an immense energy throughout the entire set (even in the Texas heat!). Taking pictures of him was difficult as he darted from one side of the stage to the next without ever seeming to pause. The band sounded marvelous just like the previous time I had seen them, matching energies with Adam Ant.

The band roared through many classic Ant favorites, including "Beat My Guest," "Goody Two Shoes," "Stand and Deliver," and my personal favorite (though I don't care for the live version as much because it desperately...haha, pun...needs that trumpet part) "Desperate But Not Serious." The group came back out for a three song encore amid our shouts for more Antmusic (which I've linked a video of below, from the first time I saw him here in Austin over at Emo's East).

Ultimately, this was another fine performance from the Blue Black Hussar. He continues to sound flawless after all the years and his stage energy is certainly a force to be reckoned with. While it would have been nice to get a handshake or two, he still talked to the audience every now and then and was kind enough to give a couple fans the bandanna he was wearing on his pants for a time and one of his pirate gloves, a nice gesture on his part that won't be quickly forgot. The set was a wonderful mix of classic Adam Ant songs with only a few off the newest album. Overall, the crowd was very into the show and singing along at the top of their lungs and screaming adoration for Adam Ant. He is most assuredly not a performer to be missed, so be sure to check him out when the tour comes near you!

Best shot I could get of the set list on stage. They didn't have many to hand out and stage crew were too busy to quickly hold down the corner for me to get a better picture.

Ratings:

Prima Donna: 5 out of 5

Adam Ant: 5 out of 5

More Information: Official Site of Prima Donna Official Site of Adam Ant