Gary Numan: Savage

Gary Numan: Savage (Live at Brixton Academy) is an exceptional musical film that takes viewers deep into the world of the iconic British electro pioneer, Gary Numan. Filmed during his concert at the prestigious Brixton Academy in London, this film delivers a fascinating glimpse into Numan's live performance and the potent energy that fuels his music and charisma onstage.

The movie documents Numan's performance of his album "Savage: Songs from a Broken World." The album, which was a great success and landed at number two on the UK album charts, is an ambitious concept album about a post-apocalyptic Earth where humanity has been rendered almost extinct due to global warming.

As the concert kicks off, the audience is instantly immersed in Numan's brooding, industrial soundscape. The stage is filled with smoke and atmospheric lighting, setting a startlingly intimate yet dystopian mood. This builds the expectation for Numan's unforgettable appearance, further conjuring up his alien yet familiar persona.

The film captures Numan's magnetic stage presence, his glacial, yet passionate vocals, and his synergy with his bandmates. Performing tracks from 'Savage' such as 'Ghost Nation', 'Bed of Thorns', and 'Pray for the Pain You Serve', Numan delivers a powerfully evocative experience. He combines these with older hits like 'Cars', and 'Are 'Friends' Electric?', creating a cocktail of nostalgia and newness that only magnifies his compelling performance.

Numan is a charismatic performer, and his live renditions of his songs are nothing short of electrifying. The film paints the artist's passion, showmanship, and musical prowess in detail. It showcases his unique ability to blend old and new, synthesizing a music style that is both dark and hopeful, bleak yet beautiful.

Uplifting yet melancholic, fiery yet restrained, the film captures perfectly the concert's rollercoaster of emotions. Numan's raw energy and the relentless beats of his music, coupled with the unyielding screams and claps from the crowd, create a raw concert experience like no other.

The film features vivid concert footage interspersed seamlessly with backstage shots, capturing behind-the-scenes snippets that give viewers a glimpse into the enigmatic musician's world off stage. Close up shots during the concert expose the grit and intensity of the live performance and magnify Numan's connectivity with his audience.

Gary Numan: Savage (Live at Brixton Academy) is not just an ordinary concert film; it extends beyond that to provide a powerful and intimate look at one of the most influential figures in electronic music. High-quality cinematography and great attention to detail sets the stage alive on screen, capturing the intensity of Numan's music and the fervor of his fans.

The movie captures the pure magic of a Gary Numan live show. It's an electrifying journey down memory lane for Numan fans while also offering a perfect beginning for newcomers seeking a gateway into his world of distinctive electronic rock music. The high-energy film pulsates as much with the live performance as it does with the audience's visceral reaction to it. It resonates with Numan's particular brand of electro-industrial rock, a vibrant blend of heavy synth layers and melodic hooks.

Music documentaries like Gary Numan: Savage (Live at Brixton Academy) are as much about the artist as they are about the music. And this film brings out the best of both, combined with Numan's magnetic stage presence, his passionate fanbase, and the timeless atmosphere of Brixton Academy.

In the end, the film serves as a testament to Numan's enduring impact on the music scene and his ability to captivate audiences with his unique blend of sounds. His music, which once ushered in the future, now packages the past, present, and future into a pulsating, energetic ball of raw and thought-provoking rock'n'roll.

An essential watch for any music lover, Gary Numan: Savage (Live at Brixton Academy) encapsulates the energy and emotion of one of the music world's most distinctive, enduring figures in his element. A visceral, immersive experience, this film captures not just a concert, but a phenomenon that has enthralled generations of fans. The film stands as an epitome of Numan's ability to captivate, engage, and ultimately transport his audience into his distinct musical world, where the ordinary meets the extraordinary.