Duran Duran Bring Their Legacy to Phoenix

Every trend, sound, & fashion will face the test of time. Duran Duran has proven that they are an artistic, and timeless powerhouse. On their recent stop in Phoenix, Arizona at Mortgage Matchup Center, the audience was full of eager faces of all ages, ready to dance and sing along to some of the most iconic songs of our time. Despite the show rolling through on a Monday night, there was hardly an empty seat in the house.

The 20-song setlist provided all the hits, a taste of new Duran Duran music, and a couple covers of familiar songs, including “Evil Woman”- Electric Light Orchestra, and “Psycho Killer”- Talking Heads. Though Duran Duran have been performing for quite some time, their energy and passion on stage has yet to falter. Frontman Simon Le Bon joined the crowd in bringing out his best dance moves, while simultaneously delivering an incredible vocal performance. He was accompanied on stage by 2 backup vocalists, Rachael O’Connor, and Anna Ross, who completed the entrancing duet for “Come Undone”. Throughout the set, band members shared smiles and banter, giving fans a brief display of the dynamics that are shared with one another. The stage set up remained simple, but Duran Duran is not necessarily a band that needs the glitter and frills. It’s clear that they have remained dedicated to their craft through all these years, and they continuously give their all to ensure that fans experience a concert of a lifetime. Ahead of their performance of “Ordinary World”, Simon gave a very heartfelt speech regarding the current state of our world, acknowledging the struggles and horrors that many are experiencing around the globe. In times like we are facing today, it is so important that artists are able to connect with their fans and talk about the sensitive topics. Music is such a strong bond for many, providing the perfect outlet to unite people of all walks of life to be a part of something that is bigger than ourselves.

Photo by Joe Rondone

There are many legacy artists that are unfortunately no longer able to play live shows, and I think it is so important to catch the ones we have left; to celebrate their influence on the music world and in our lives. Duran Duran continues to put on an exceptional show, keeping the audience in a constant moving ocean, full of fans dancing to their heart’s content, and sharing the moment with friends, family, and partners. As people filtered out of the arena, Phoenix became full of smiling faces and new memories. We hope to see Duran Duran grace our stages again soon!