Duran Duran live in St. Paul and Kansas City

The Midwest got a double dose of Duran Duran over the July 23-24 weekend as the "Paper Gods" tour visited St. Paul and Kansas City.

During the first leg of the U.S. summer tour, fans reported that Simon Le Bon’s voice was sounding rough. Now, Simon was singing better, but Nick Rhodes soon disappeared from the tour as he dealt with a family emergency back in England.

It was strange seeing Duran without Nick for the first time … ever. MNDR, who has worked with the band as well as Mark Ronson, was filling Nick's formidable shoes.

(All photos by Christopher Windle)

Chic, having joined Duran first for the “Paper Gods” promotional dates, once again provided a proper opening act. In St. Paul, Chic graced the stage for an hour and a half, playing all of the band’s hits and covers by the likes of Sister Sledge, Madonna, and David Bowie that band leader Nile Rodgers helped craft.

When Duran last played the Xcel Energy Center in 2005, the audience was much more subdued. In 2016, singer Brian Setzer joined a crowd of about 10,000 fans that was clearly ready to party. “Wild Boys,” “Hungry Like the Wolf,” and “A View to a Kill” got the audience riled up.

Set opener "Paper Gods" and a sublime "What Are the Chances?" allowed the band a couple of slower moments to energize themselves for the hit-laden show. Simon's voice, which was raspy at times, became stronger as the concert progressed.

Backing singer Anna Ross ably shared the front of the stage with Simon on “Come Undone,” and new singer Erin Stevenson had her time in the spotlight for “Last Night in the City.”

Nile joined the band for “Notorious” and “Pressure Off,” though Simon’s teasing of “The Reflex,” complete with Roger Taylor’s drum beat, elicited even bigger cheers. During the performance of the first single off “Paper Gods,” cannons spewed enough confetti for fans to keep throwing piles into the air throughout the rest of the show.

The absolute highlights of the St. Paul show were the tributes. “Planet Earth” segued beautifully into Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” giving guitarist Dom Brown a chance to shine. The guitar and bass seemed louder than usual throughout the concert.

Then there were the staples, like “Ordinary World” and “White Lines,” the latter having worn out its welcome just a bit. When there are so many hits that Duran has that fell outside the top 10 yet don’t make the set list, it feels odd that the band still keeps a spot in the show for a cover song.

But "I Don’t Want Your Love” was a welcome change of pace, as was “(Reach up for the) Sunrise,” freshened with a snippet of “New Moon on Monday.” And the crowd got “The Reflex” they wanted, as well as “Girls on Film.” 

Simon waited until late in the show to explain Nick's absence, introducing MNDR as the redhead who was standing in for Duran's blonde keyboardist. She seemed happy to stay in the background even though she was playing an integral part in Duran’s show.

For the encore, Duran brought back its tribute to Prince in the form of “Save a Prayer,” with a shoutout at the end to “Little Red Corvette.” At Simon’s urging, the audience lit up their cellphones in honor of their hometown hero. And, of course, “Rio” closed the show in style. Beach balls added to the summertime party atmosphere.

Although the band is performing a static set list of late, there are small differences to be appreciated from show to show. In the northern Midwest, which Simon referred to as “St. Paul-Minneapolis,” Duran played an indoor venue on a rainy day. The next day, the band was in Kansas City, performing outdoors at the Starlight Theatre, which John Taylor said Duran first played in 1982.

Chic warmed up the crowd, though they certainly didn’t need it on such a sweltering day. After Duran took the stage, Simon related a band conversation from earlier in the day, in which there was confusion about Kansas City’s claim to fame. A cab driver set the band members straight, telling them that “The Wizard of Oz” actually was set in Kansas, not Missouri.

Still, Simon continued with “The Wizard of Oz” theme, introducing a song for the (one-track) mind (“Come Undone”), heart (“I Don’t Want Your Love”), and courage (“The Reflex,” for longtime fans who were urged to sing along).

In Kansas City, Duran dedicated "Save a Prayer" to victims of violence worldwide, whether in Paris, Iraq, or the U.S., where shootings involving the police and black men have increased this year.

Notably, a crowd of 7,000 danced to songs performed by one of the most diverse groups of musicians on tour at the moment. The presence of Nile on stage with Duran, as well as Chic’s multiracial band and fellow opener Tokimonsta, demonstrate just how well good music can bridge cultural divides.