Bryan Ferry at the United Palace

Bryan Ferry CBE was born in Washington, England, and later studied fine art at a university in nearby Newcastle upon Tyne. During this period, Ferry was a member of several bands, including the Banshees, City Blues, and the Gas Board. In 1968, Ferry moved to London and taught art and pottery at a school while pursuing a career in music. Ferry formed the glam art rock band Roxy Music with a group of friends and acquaintances in 1970, achieving hit songs in the United Kingdom and a cult following in the United States. Ferry began his solo career in 1973, while still a member of Roxy Music. Roxy Music first disbanded in 1976 and reformed from 1978 to 1983, with several brief reunions since then, most recently in 2019 for the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2011, Ferry was made a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honors for his contribution to the British music industry, and in 2012 he was awarded the French national honor of Officier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Combining his sales as a solo artist and as a member of Roxy Music, Ferry has sold more than 30 million records worldwide. Ferry's 16th and most recent album, Bitter-Sweet, released on November 30, 2018 under the moniker of Bryan Ferry and his Orchestra, contains remakes of older songs by Ferry and Roxy Music.

For this tour, which hit the United Palace tonight, Ferry's set pivoted on Roxy Music’s 1982 swan song, Avalon. Perhaps inspired by Roxy Music's recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ferry and his band performed eight of Avalon's 10 songs, plus 10 other Roxy Music songs and only four songs from his solo catalogue. Alternately standing at the microphone or sitting at an electric piano, Ferry's seductive lounge lizard vocals sometimes brooded or languished on slower songs, yet on more upbeat, danceable songs, his understated, subdued delivery came alive. Longtime collaborator/guitarist Chris Spedding provided much of the juice for the rockers. With the focus almost entirely on 20th century Roxy Music songs, however, the concert showed little evidence that Ferry has a trajectory for future music.

Setlist:

1. India (Roxy Music song; intro short version)
2. The Main Thing (Roxy Music song)
3. The Space Between (Roxy Music song)
4. The 39 Steps
5. Out of the Blue (Roxy Music song)
6. Slave to Love
7. While My Heart Is Still Beating (Roxy Music song)
8. Don't Stop the Dance
9. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues (Bob Dylan cover)
10. Boys and Girls
11. Dance Away (Roxy Music song)
12. My Only Love (Roxy Music song)
13. Take a Chance with Me (Roxy Music song)
14. To Turn You On (Roxy Music song)
15. In Every Dream Home a Heartache (Roxy Music song)
16. If There Is Something (Roxy Music song)
17. More Than This (Roxy Music song)
18. Avalon (Roxy Music song)
19. Love Is the Drug (Roxy Music song)
20. Editions of You (Roxy Music song)
21. Jealous Guy (John Lennon cover)
22. Let's Stick Together (Wilbert Harrison cover)