It was a fairly warm spring evening in South Florida but inside the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood the temperature was on fire, as world famous English band Duran Duran played their trademark pop-rock to a packed audience made up of new and older fans.
The show part of the “Paper Gods” World Tour, kicked-off with loud cheers from the crowd as band members Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, Nick Rhodes and fill-in guitarist Dom Brown emerged from the dark smoky stage while playing the band’s catchy title track from their current album “Paper Gods.”
The 19-song set included a handful of songs from the new album among them, “Pressure Off,” “Last Night in the City” and “Only in Dreams,” but to the delight of the crowd, it was the band’s mega hits from years past that dominated the show and kept fans on their feet and dancing in the isles.
Colorful lights, a video screen behind the band, pyrotechnic explosions and lots and lots of confetti kept things lively as the band from Birmingham, UK along with a saxophonist and two dancing backup singers, delivered a fantastic show like only Duran Duran can.
Halfway through the show, an amazing and moving moment came when lead singer Simon Le Bon asked the audience to turn their phone lights on for the performance of “Save a Prayer.”
Le Bon went on to explain that for him (and the rest of the band members) the lights in the dark are like stars in the sky, each symbolizes the love that the each and every fan feels towards them.
The end of Duran Duran’s colorful and energy filled show came to an end when the band treated fans to their signature tune “Rio” complete with a festival-like atmosphere that included a huge confetti blast and giant beach balls bouncing throughout the main floor.
The overall feel of the “Paper Gods” show at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood was fun and energetic and after nearly 40 years of making great music the strong chemistry amongst the band was evident and amusing to watch.
Judging from the fan reaction on Tuesday night, it’s fair to point out that Duran Duran’s ability to keep their audience engaged is almost magical and the one thing they can count on is that their music will never go out of style.
Courtesy NBC 6 South Florida