Duran Duran – Xcel Energy Center – St Paul MN – 7/23/2016

Xcel energy center presents Duran Duran with very special guest Nile Rodgers and CHIC.

Nile Rodgers has worked with all the best for over 40 years. Producing and writing with David Bowie, Madonna, Daft punk and Duran Duran to name a few.

They brought him with tonight to show his musical genius. An unbelievable set by Nile and CHIC.  Getting the evening started with Everybody Dance and Dance Dance Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah) was amazing. We knew right away this was gonna be a fun night. He told us he has been cancer free for 5 years and is the luckiest man alive. As his story came out we were all happy to enjoy every note tonight. He even surprised us with Like A Virgin from Madonna.

The whole band made every song perfect and Nile showed the crow how important he is in the music business. From disco to Daft Punk he had all the right grooves going.

Full set list – Everybody Dance – Dance Dance Dance – I Want Your Love – I’m Coming Out – Upside Down – He’s the Greatest Dancer – We Are Family – Soup For One -= Like A Virgin – Get Lucky – Let’s Dance – Le Freak – Good Times and yes it was!

Duran Duran opened to and endless smoke cloud during Paper Gods. Fun to watch but a little messy. The band was having fun waving away the smoke and laughing as they opened with Paper Gods. Simon took a few songs to warm up but as soon as he did he sounded great. Wild Boys and Hungry Like the Wolf we got to hear up close and personal while we shot the rest of the photos.

Simon even took the time to give me a “point into the camera” pic. Thanks man.

Nick Rhodes was sitting out for personal reasons but as the band said Nick said while he is gone Let’s replacement the blonde with a red head.”

John Taylor and Roger Taylor still in the line made for an almost full original line up. You would not have know cause they sounded so good.

The pop hits and dancing kept going all night. The 80’s were alive and well with a sprinkle of new tunes from the bands new album Paper Gods.

The crowd was mostly housewives with their husbands and without. 2 girls up front waited 33 years to have front row seats together.

Half way through the show Nile Rogers came back on stage to help out on Notorious and Pressure Off (new song) which he helped produce.

The band then hit into Ordinary World and had the whole crowd singing. Closing the main set was Reflex and Girls on Film.

For the encore Simon had the arena turned purple and dedicated to Prince. Stating “He is one of the greatest musicians the world will ever see.”

And of course closing out the evening on of MTV’s biggest hits “Rio” A huge dance party had us all smiling on the way out. Thank you!

Full set list – Paper Gods – Wild Boys – Hungry Like the Wolf  – A View to a Kill – Come Undone – Last Night in the City – What Are the Chances? – Notorious – Pressure Off – Planet Earth – Ordinary World – I Don’t Want Your Love – White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It) – Sunrise – The Reflex – Girls on Film – Save a Prayer – Rio