Mixed bag from Moby to Bowie induced all-night bodyrocking
Two young, thin girls in black-and-white-striped stockings, lace shirts, heavy makeup and combat boots scurried toward the entrance gate, already starting to move with the music. Behind them, a couple of men in their late 40s wearing khaki shorts, T-shirts and Birkenstocks lumbered toward the entrance in no particular hurry.
The crowd was as diverse in age and appearance as the musical offerings at the "Area: Two" concert, which made its last tour stop for the season Friday at the Gorge. Two distinct groups of people quickly emerged at the show: The kids who were there to dance all night long, and a slightly older, more clean-cut set who came to see David Bowie perform.
Organized by electronica wizard Moby, the bill also featured sets by the Blue Man Group, Busta Rhymes and Moby on the main stage, as well as spinning by Tiesto and DJ Tim Skinner in the DJ tent.
As the main show got started at about 5 p.m., a modest crowd surrounded the stage during sets by the percussion band Blue Man Group and hip-hopper Busta Rhymes. At that point in the afternoon, the real party was in the air-conditioned tent, which was a tad smaller than a football field, to hear top DJs spin house, techno and trance music. Dancers didn't seem deterred that their not-so-easily navigated floor was made of lumpy grass. Or that it was hot — especially while dancing — despite the AC.
But, by far, the most amazing scene of the night was the audience behavior before Bowie's set. "Dude! C'mon, it's Bowie!," screamed one twentysomething man to his friends, who were closer to the top of the grassy hill. "C'MON!" His five friends responded by careening down the paved walkway to find a good spot closer to the stage.
Within a few minutes, the kids and the older audience members merged for the first time. Every paved walkway leading to the stage was crammed with people clamoring to get closer to Bowie.
Bowie performed decades of hits including "Diamond Dogs," "Fame," "China Girl" and "Let's Dance," while constant and loud audience cheers were the only thing all day to rival the volume of the thumping DJ tent.
The huge crowd remained at the front of the stage for Moby, who powered through a 90-minute set. The energetic musician ran and bounced like a pogo stick, playing various instruments including the piano, guitar, bongos and turntables. The audience followed suit, dancing and springing up like jumping beans.
Moby punctuated his musical performance, which included "Bodyrock," "South Side" and "Natural Blues," with comic speeches and commentary against the music industry for its cookie-cutter view on music.
Maisy Fernandez: mfernandez@yakima-herald.com.