December 15, 2006 16:35

Lou Reed performs classic album live

The singer plays 'Berlin' live in New York

Former Velvet Underground frontman Lou Reed played his 1973 album 'Berlin' at St Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn last night (December 14).

The desperately bleak concept album was first released to a critical panning and commercial failure when Reed was at the height of his glam-rock stardom.

The record revolves around the story of two dead-beat lovers embroiled in drug-use, domestic violence and prostitution all set to the background of the eponymous city.

Until now, Reed had never performed the album live but over 30 years after its release, he was finally convinced to revisit the album by patrons of the venue and the album’s cult fanbase.

The performance was given a semi-theatrical element thanks to a stage-set and projections, while Reed was backed up by a cast of nearly 30 musicians and singers.

After playing the album in sequence, Reed also treated the sold-out crowd to versions of the Velvet Underground staples ‘Sweet Jane’ and ‘Candy Says’ - the latter of which featured Antony & The Johnsons' Antony Hegarty sharing the lead vocals.

The full set was:

'Sad Song'
'Berlin'
'Lady Day'
'Men Of Good Fortune'
'Caroline Says (I)'
'How Do You Think It Feels'
'Oh, Jim'
'Caroline Says (II)'
'The Kids'
'The Bed'
'Sad Song'
'Sweet Jane'
'Candy Says'
'The Minuet'

Reed will repeat the performance over the next three nights (15, 16,17) at the same venue, before taking the production to the Sydney Festival in January.

--By our New York staff.
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