It’s hard for me to describe with words my astonishment to see Peter Murphy perform live in NYC, combined with the thrill of the unknown. It was my very first time, even though I’ve been a Bauhaus fan since I was fourteen and later I really got into Love & Rockets too, but honestly I discovered his solo work pretty late.
I find it more grown-up and mellow than his other projects and with it for some reason he reminds me of “Johnny Cash of the Goth scene”, if I can put it that way. Murphy’s scene presence and voice are simply undisputed. He totally blew the audience with his arriving and the opening “Hang Up” from his new album “Lion”.
Not only that. He’s totally badass for his 56 years. In 2013 he narrowly avoided a jail term, being sentenced to three years probation for a hit-and-run for DIU and possession of methamphetamines (which are hell of a drug!). However, he seemed very staid and smooth on stage.
Peter Murphy’s set included only songs from his solo work – the audience had the opportunity to hear “Eliza”, “Deep Ocean, Vast Sea”, “Memory Go”, “Low Tar Stars”… The occasional violin really fitted the whole mood.
One of the most stunning moments of the whole evening was when Peter took an acoustic guitar and played and sang “A Strange Kind Of Love” from his first and most successful solo album “Deep”.
On encore he gave to the audience also his biggest solo hit “Cuts You Up”, followed by “Lion”, “Subway” and “Even and unbrittle”.
My only disappointment as a fan is that I didn’t hear any of his band stuff. Yes, yes, I know it’s his solo tour promoting his new record, but come on Peter, next time give us a little something. You know well, that even only the first chords of “She’s In Parties” or “It Could Be Sunshine”, for example, will set the room on fire!
And, of course, here are some pictures of the audience captured for Flowers In A Gun’s regular “Bang Bang” thingie. Expect our photographers on the next show. They will literally shoot the moment dead!
