By Ray Kelly | rkelly@repub.com
12:34 AM, updated April 08, 2016 at 7:24 AM
UNCASVILLE, Connecticut – Duran Duran, the teen magazine cover boys of the 1980s, brought their "Paper Gods Tour" to the Mohegan Sun Casino on Thursday night.
In a fast-paced multimedia show, the one-time reigning MTV faves kicked off the night with the driving title track from last year's "Paper Gods," their 14th studio album.
Longtime fans worried that the 105-minute arena show would be heavy on new material had those fears eased when the band offered up more familiar fare, like 1984's "The Wild Boys;" "Hungry Like a Wolf," a Top 10 hit from 1982; and "A View to a Kill," the theme from the 1985 James Bond movie of the same name.
"Hello Connect-it-cut, Connecticut," lead singer Simon Le Bon shouted out to the cheering crowd. "Your'e a noisy bunch, a good looking noisy bunch."
The more than 30-year-old tracks still sounded remarkably fresh, thanks to Le Bon's energy and vocal prowess.
Newer songs like "Last Night in the City" and "Pressure Off" fit in well with the old New Wave fare served up by the quartet. On the latter, Duran Duran was joined by longtime producer Nile Rodgers, who had set the bar for the evening quite high with his killer opening set with Chic.
In a nod to the late David Bowie, Duran Duran performed its 1981 breakout "Planet Earth" as a medley with Bowie's "Space Oddity" as images of the British rocker flashed on the giant stage screens.
After wrapping closing with "Girls on Film," Duran Duran returned for a two-song encore capped with a killer version of "Rio."
Opening for Duran Duran was 21-year-old Las Vegas singer-songwriter Shamir Bailiey and Chic featuring Rodgers.
After a 20-minute set by the XL Records recording artist, Rodgers and the disco-era band Chic performed a lively, joyful hour-long set.
Chic served up dance favorites like "Le Freak," "Everybody Dance" and "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)," as well as three blockbuster hits Rodgers and Chic's Bernard Edwards penned for others – "I'm Coming Out," "Upside Down" and "We Are Family."
Rodgers' performed a cover of Bowie's "Let's Dance," a tune he produced. for the rock icon.
"David Bowie changed my life," Rodgers told the crowd.
Since producing Bowie and Duran Duran in the 1980s, Rodgers has produced songs for such acts as Britney Spears, Pharrell Williams, Avicii, Sam Smith, Pitbull and Lady Gaga.
DURAN DURAN 4.7.2016
Paper Gods
The Wild Boys
Hungry Like the Wolf
A View to a Kill
Come Undone
Last Night in the City
What Are the Chances?
Notorious
Pressure Off
Planet Earth / Space Oddity
Ordinary World
I Don't Want Your Love
White Lines
(Reach Up for the) Sunrise / New Moon on Monday
Danceophobia
Too Much Information
Girls on Film
encore
Save a Prayer
Rio
Courtesy Masslive
