Recap Rebel Rebel: Rock For Pussy VII at First Avenue

After seven years, the premise of Rebel Rebel: Rock For Pussy still hasn't worn out its welcome: Get glammed up, make some Cat People jokes, and watch as local musicians do David Bowie's catalog proud. On Friday night at First Avenue, a total of 30 songs were played—from show opener “Modern Love” to “Suffragette City” as the encore—and here's what stood out.

Best outfit: There were a lot of tight pants (and a lot of God-given ass) onstage that night, with folks dressed in endless variations on the Thin White Duke’s style. If you want commitment, look no further than co-host Dave Campbell, who sacrificed his long hair to recreate the cover of Low (even if the makeup did make him look, as he put it, “like a zombie.”) But it was “The Jean Genie” singer Liam Watkins (First Communion Afterparty) who turned the most heads in an amalgamation of ’70s Bowie glam: Aladdin Sane lightning bolt makeup, pylon-orange hair, dangly rhinestone earrings, and a mish-mash of colors and patterns from the neck down.

Honorable mention: Death To Our Enemies’ Matt Coffee, who took on “Rebel Rebel,” elicited catcalls in a jazzercise leotard and those gold American Apparel leggings that always made us wonder who would wear them. Answer: Matt Coffee.

Most unexpected song of the night: At a tribute show where songs from Hunky Dory and The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust made up a third of the set list, it was surprising to hear Chris Pavlich (Two Harbors) tackle “I’m Afraid Of Americans” from 1997’s electronica-inspired Earthling. A little industrial head-banging in the middle of all that glam rock was a nice change.

Worst song played: No offense to Janey Winterbauer, who introduced the song by declaring it her favorite of all time, but “Let’s Dance” is pretty weak. The least Bowie of Bowie singles, it’s always sounded more like a Duran Duran rip-off (probably because of Nile Rodgers’ production). Plus, as a friend at the show pointed out, “The title isn’t an invitation, it’s a challenge.”

Best Bowie voice: And yet, George Scot McKelvey (Hookers & Blow, Soul Asylum) nailed the delivery on “Let’s Dance,” adding just the right amount of snarl to that line about “the ssssserious moonlight.” We still couldn’t dance to it, but it was the best version of that song we could hope for.

Song we want to hear next year: Though many big singles went unplayed ("Fashion," "Fame," "Ashes To Ashes"), “I’m Afraid Of Americans” brought to mind another Earthling gem. “Battle For Britain (The Letter)” wasn’t a hit, but it also isn’t the deepest of cuts. In fact, during Bowie’s Reality tour, it was his “impromptu” song (you know, the one a musician spontaneously decides to throw into the set—night after night). Covering it wouldn’t be easy, what with the hyperactive drum-and-bass breakbeat and the solo that sounds like a piano falling down the stairs, but it would be worth the trouble.