There aren't enough words in the dictionary to describe the infinite sadness of watching a pudgy, huffing and puffing, somewhat hoarse, 57 year old man in full Pirate Captain regalia, including hat, topped off by eyeglasses, singing "That music's lost its taste lets try another flavor…" to a sold out Best Buy Theater, on West 44th. It's as though you are staring into the cavernous hell of age and decay and there is no where to run and hide. There is nothing to do but shift uneasy and ponder your own finite existence. It was heartbreaking. Such was Adam Ant's two hour career spanning gig, including a song from an upcoming album.
In the early 1980s, Adam Adam joined together the visage of pirate culture to, well, to the music of African Burundi drums and 50s rock and roll. The result was 10 top 10 singles in the UK. some of which, "Dog Eat Dog" , "Goody Two Shoes" (which was his first US hits). "Stand And Deliver" were a lot of fun. But his music went out of flavor and his mental condition wrecked havoc on his life. According to Wikipedia, in 2010 Ant told the UK tabloid Sun: "In the past I've been a robot. It's been an out-of-body experience. Bipolar means up and down and that's me… Music has always been the best medication. I was on sodium valproate for seven years…. I couldn't get to sleep and I didn't make love for seven years. My hair fell out and I couldn't pick up a book as I couldn't concentrate. I didn't write a song or pick up a guitar in that time — and piled on the weight. I might as well have been dead." This has lead to major meltdowns. And it is certainly to Adam's credit that he has managed to return to the stage despite mental issues beyond his control that have found him institutionalized.
However, understanding that
1. Adam Ant was far from a disgrace, performing a full blooded set.
and
2. he did it with the odds stacked against him
doesn't mean it was good. It wasn't a good set. His band, he Good, the Mad and the Lovely Posse, were really nothing much. Young session musicians there to perform an anonymous service, Ant's voice is shot and while he was unfailingly energetic, he can't dance and had serious problems with his voice control.
Performing his current business as usual overly generous 28 song set the stand outs well…an early "Dog Eat Dog" stood out because it was "Dog Eat Dog", a mid-set "Strip", with Ant seductively removing his coat so show his midriff bulge in a frilly pirate shirt, stood out for its fear factor. The set was very well put together, with a hit only a couple of songs away at any given time. And "Wonderful", "my only attempt at a love song", given pride of place and for good reason -it is a fine ballad. Otherwise, from Highway man to sextoy, the various incarnations of Ant were presented. I am not a big fan of the guy, but he certainly had his moments in a successful career, some of which I've enjoyed a great deal. But it just wasn't very good. With all the will in the world, it was a bad idea.
You wanna good idea, Ant? Revert to Stuart Goddard, get a cracker back up band, take voice lessons, put on a tux, stand stock still and present your songs. Quite a few of these songs would improve vastly if torn away from their youth and presenting them straight wouldn't just be a playing to your skills, it would be reinventing yourself again. Better still, do an Ant reads from his bio illustrated with songs tour. Anything where we don't have to compare you so directly with the twenty something Ant of our memories. A man you shouldn't have to compete with younger self, he should be allowed to be what he is.
This is about as depressing a night out as you can imagine: the infinite sadness of human decay in action.
Grade: C
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