Thursday, April 06, 2000
Moby, Bush thrill Miami audience
BY NICOLE HAMILTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Sophisticated electronica and explosive guitar rock. Miami University got both Tuesday night as MTV's Campus Invasion Tour, featuring Bush and electronic music wizard Moby, performed at Millett Hall.
Both internationally acclaimed acts gave energy-laden performances to a near sellout college crowd.
Moby and his band, which included a spinner, drummer and a statuesque bassist he introduced as “Greta,” began their high-octane act with powerful versions of songs from his latest blues inspired album Play.
From the beginning, Moby proved that electronic music can be as stimulating to watch as to listen to. Amid a spectacular lighting display, he played impromptu conga and guitar solos, banged his head feverishly on his keyboard, and joked with the audience — even once about being a bald guy.
The set included older Moby songs, including tracks such as “What Love,” from his 1995 album Everything is Wrong. There was a little bit for everyone, from techno-charged numbers to the newer, more earthy songs from Play.
“Rock the Body,” the Grammy nominated single, was an obvious crowd pleaser and formidable climax.
Although a fitting opener to Bush, Moby's (he can trace his family back to Moby Dick author Herman Melville) too-short act was only a sample of the artist's capabilities.
Bush — with guitar mutilation, power rock ballads and anthems and a heavy dose of attitude — embodies the spirit of rock 'n' roll. Entering a pitch black stage that became gloriously illuminated on the first cymbal crash of “Machinehead,” the British four-piece band charged through all its hits, including “The Chemicals Between Us” and “Swallowed.”
Gavin Rossdale's vocal performance was strong. The stage is Mr. Rossdale's movie screen, and he plays the part of a young rock star to the extreme.
Some of his comments to the crowd were unabashedly arrogant.
Referring to a reggae beat playing onstage he proclaimed Oxford a “small dub town.” A few, who thought he said “small dumb town,” picked up their coats and walked out.
This didn't seem to bother the crowd, mostly young college girls. In fact, the night only got better for them, as twice, the chisle-faced Mr. Rossdale left the stage to serenade from spots in the audience.
One of these excursions came during “Everything Zen.” As the rest of Bush sweated over their instruments onstage, all eyes were on Mr. Rossdale, who sang to his bandmates from the top balcony around people stuggling to touch him.
Lead guitarist duties seemed to be shared by Nigel Pulsford and Mr. Rossdale. The reverberating guitar riffs sometimes sounded more like mass noise, giving way to a sometimes monotonous sound. But the rhythm section, consisting of bassist Dave Parsons and drummer Robin Goodridge, was tight and efficient.
In true rock fashion, Bush waited a few extra minutes before returning for an encore. Mr. Rossdale sang the ballad “Glycerine” with honest emotion, but the song took an unfortunate turn when it ended up-tempo with full band.
Then Bush did a version of The Doors “Break on Through,” telling the audience they wrote it and the former band stole it from them.
They were joking, of course. But those who would have wondered were already gone.
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