In this day and age, there are so many artists to discover. So many different genre-bending wizards casting their spells of chords and lyrics. There are almost too many. I often find myself on the hunt for new music. Oftentimes, my search takes me to new shows. Gary Numan was no exception. I had heard the name before, but couldn’t say I was familiar with his sound.

I didn’t know what to expect going to Newport Music Hall that evening. I showed up, amazed to see a crowd full of alt/goth/punk-rock attendees. This assured me I was in for a treat.

The night opened up with Tremours. Tremours is an alternative indie group hailing from the great Los Angeles. As a duo, they span vocals and guitar as well as drums on stage. I always appreciate a band that tests the boundaries of what music can be, and that is something Temours does. At one point, their drummer, Glenn Fryatt, switched out a hi-hat for what appeared to be a garbage can lid with metal chains attached underneath. It created a totally unique sound that I can safely say I had never heard before.

Unheard sounds seemed to be the theme of the evening. With only Tremours as the opening act, Gary Numan made his way to the stage with a dramatic reveal. Opting for low lights and a long intro track to drum up suspense before his bassist, Tim Slade, and Steve Harris took the stage. Immediately, I knew I would love the proceeding hour of my life. The stage outfits with dark, almost insane, priestly vibes are often an aesthetic I vibe with artistically. Before long, I had Gary Newman center stage, opening into his first song of the night.

If nothing else, Gary Numan is a performer. For most of his set, I was enraptured. Trying to figure out what each person on stage was doing while collectively loving every second. Gary is the definition of a person who speaks with their hands, and I felt the emotions of his music radiating off him with every movement. I loved every weird, dramatical, tense, and alternative second of this show.

Post-show, I’ve gone on a deep dive through his discography, and I eagerly await his return to Columbus.