David Bowie (July 8, 1978) "Brilliant Bowie... With One Reservation" – NME Earl's Court Concert Review

A detailed and thoughtful New Musical Express concert review of David Bowie’s performance at London’s Earl’s Court in 1978, offering an in-depth assessment of his powerful stage presence, the strength of his current band, and the evolving sound of his late-1970s era following the success of albums like Low and Heroes.

Publication: New Musical Express (NME) Date: July 8, 1978

Country: United Kingdom Section: Concert Review / Live Feature

THE STORY

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

Nick Kent delivers a largely glowing review of David Bowie’s Earl’s Court concert, praising the singer’s commanding stage presence, the exceptional quality of his current backing band, and the impressive diversity of material drawn from his recent experimental albums alongside classic hits. The piece highlights Bowie’s continued evolution as a performer while noting a few minor reservations about certain aspects of the show’s execution.

Full page with the prominent headline “BRILLIANT BOWIE... WITH ONE RESERVATION” and a striking black-and-white photo of David Bowie performing at the microphone. Dense columns of text by Nick Kent with additional commentary on the setlist, band performance, and overall atmosphere. Classic late-1970s NME review layout.

CONTEXT AND NOTES	FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Published on July 9, 1978, this review captures David Bowie during a highly creative and transitional phase of his career, following the groundbreaking “Berlin Trilogy” albums. The Earl’s Court show represented one of his major London performances of the period, showcasing both his established classics and newer, more experimental material to a large audience.	Event: Major concert review Era: 1978 (Post-Berlin Trilogy live period) Tone: Appreciative, analytical, balanced Photography: Strong onstage portrait of David Bowie performing RELATED MATERIAL: For other related posts, see the tags at the foot of the page.

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.