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David Bowie tribute show celebrates ninth year at First Avenue

by Andrea Swensson

June 11, 2012

Now in its ninth year, the annual Rebel Rebel: Rock for Pussy animal shelter fundraiser-slash-David Bowie tribute night drew its largest crowd yet and kept the crowd singing and dancing for hours.

The event is spearheaded by The Current's own Mary Lucia and David Campbell, but it was clear throughout the night that the execution came down to the strength of the house bandleader, John Eller, who kept the performers in check and the night flowing from one song into another. It also seemed like the musicians went above and beyond this year with their costumes, thanks in part to the staff of Moxie who were on site handling hair and make-up duties for the performers and crowd.

Here's a rundown of which performers tackled which songs. My personal favorites included Christian Erickson bringing the industrial edge with "I'm Afraid of Americans," Chastity Brown's soulful rendition of "Oh! You Pretty Thing," Reed Wilkerson and David Campbell teaming up for a stellar "Under Pressure" and Campbell returning a few songs later in a barely long-enough kimono for "Moonage Daydream," and Matt Coffee's positively hair raising rendition of "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide."

Set One:

"Station to Station" - Orion Treon of Phantom Tails
"Let's Dance" - Ciaran Daly of the Idle Hands
"Jean Genie" - Brenden Green of the Goondas
"Queen Bitch" - Laurie Lindeen of Zuzu's Petals
"Golden Years" - John Eller
"I'm Afraid of Americans" - Christian Erickson of Blue Sky Blackout
"China Girl" - Mike Shephard
"Oh! You Pretty Thing" - Chastity Brown
"Beauty and the Beast" - Joseph Pettini 
"Life on Mars" - Leslie Ball
"Under Pressure" - Reed Wilkerson and David Campbell
"Heroes" - Reed Wilkerson
"All the Young Dudes" - Adam Levy

Intermission:
"Space Oddity" - Venus DeMars and All the Pretty Horses

Set Two:
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust
"Five Years" - Aby Wolf
"Soul Love" - Ed Holmberg of Bloodnstuff
"Moonage Daydream" - David Campbell
"Starman" - Michelle Massey
"It Ain't Easy" - Chris Perricelli of Little Man
"Lady Stardust" - Janey Winterbauer
"Star" - Chris Perricelli
"Hang Onto Yourself" - Chris Perricelli
"Ziggy Stardust" - Dan Israel
"Suffragette City" - Liam Watkins
"Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" - Matt Coffee

"Watch That Man" - John Eller
"TVC-15" - Chris Lynch
"Young Americans" - John Eller

Encore/Free-for-all:
"Diamond Dogs"
"John, I'm Only Dancing"
"Fame"
"(Rebel Rebel)"

 

ALL PHOTOS BY BEN CLARK

Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.