Mohegan Sun Arena
October 25, 2024
Duran Duran gave an excellent concert to a packed Mohegan Sun Arena. When the show started it did seem every seat was filled. At least they were until the Simon Le Bon launched into the 2nd song “Wild Boys” followed by “Hungry Like the Wolf” and virtually the entire audience stood up and sang along with the band. From what I could see most remained standing and dancing for the rest of the set and encore.
Duran Duran were also introducing songs live from the Danse Macabre album which was released in 2023. It’s a Halloweenish themed album with spooky songs and lyrics. It worked well and set the tone with the concert only a few days before Halloween. The band played a couple of tunes from that release, but they are quite aware that the audience expected to hear many of the songs they made famous over the last 4 decades and they did not disappoint.
By the time the band got to “Notorious” the entire arena was in full swing and not showing any signs of slowing down. They had the place in the palm of their hand. I must say this is one of the most audience participative concerts I have seen recently. The songs are just so much of a earworm you can’t help but move to the music.
Simon spoke of the strife and world suffering prior to the hauntingly lovely “Ordinary World.” They did “View to a Kill,” the title track to the James Bond movie. There is such a diverse set of music to choose from in their sets that they could bring the audience up and down at will and did. The crowd was dancing again to finish out the set before the encore with “Girls on Film/Psycho Killer.”
Once classifieds as a New Wave pop band Duran Duran who started out in the early 80’s and has staying power that is amazing for a what was once referred to as a pop band. They were talked about in the press in the early days as pretty boys and the fab 5 for their skyrocketing success not unlike how The Beatles rose quickly. Little did they all know that the songs would be used in movies, TV shows and played on many radios for decades to come.
Simon Le Bon on vocals was joined by John Taylor on bass, John Brown on electric guitar, Nick Rhodes on keyboards, Roger Taylor on drums and Simon Willescroft on saxaphone. Anna Ross and Lamya Al-Mugheiry are the ladies in the group doing backup singing exept during “Come Undone,” when Lamya Al-Mugheiry joined Simon Le Bon in a duet. This lineup is the most complete version of the origional band that has been touring since the 1990’s.
The encore was worth waiting for as the band gave a fantastic performance of the hit “Save a Prayer” with the arena lit up with thousands in the crowd holding up their lighted phones and swaying to the song. That was followed by the last song of the night “Rio” and a cheering appreciative crowd.
Le Bon and the band know how to put on an amazing show and well worth going to see. They are consumate professionals and can easily fill an arena after all these years. His voice and the bands music is a treat to the ears. If you do get the chance to take in a Duran Duran show do it you will be happy you did and leave transported back to an easier time, pre internet when everyone got their tunes through the radio, MTV and live concerts.
For more information about Duran Duran and their upcoming concert dates visit Duran Duran
Review by Donna Erichsen
Photos by George Bekris
Setlist:
Night Boat
The Wild Boys
Hungry Like the Wolf
A View to a Kill
Ghost Town (The Specials cover)
Notorious
Supernature (Cerrone cover)
Come Undone
Bury a Friend (Billie Eilish cover)
Evil Woman (Electric Light Orchestra cover)
Confession in the Afterlife
Secret Oktober
(DANSE MACABRE version, SECRET OKTOBER 31st)
The Reflex
Ordinary World
New Moon on Monday
Union of the Snake
White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It)
(Grandmaster Melle Mel cover)
Planet Earth
Girls on Film / Psycho Killer
Encore:
Save a Prayer
Rio
