Duran Duran puts on a true celebration for Steelhouse Omaha's anniversary—and Duranies alike

More than 35 years after Duran Duran last played Omaha (and over 13 years since my last general-admission Duran show), the band returned for an electrifying concert to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Steelhouse Omaha on May 17.

The show, from the atmospheric opening song “Night Boat” to the obligatory closer “Rio,” was indeed a celebration for everyone. This included the contingent of Duranies who had waited outside the venue through blazing sun and fierce wind for over 12 hours and the well-heeled Omahans who filled the balcony (which was closed to the public for a private party).

Though the private event was likely the reason that Duran had finally returned to the city, the public jumped at the chance to see the band in a small venue and filled the floor entirely. Around noon, we joined the queue outside, which included a couple of dozen fans, some who had lined up at 6 a.m. Before the doors opened at 7 p.m., the line had snaked around the building. 

Once the doors opened, just like in that famous scene from “Sing Blue Silver,” fans ran up to the stage, where they formed a barrier of sorts—the most pleasant spot to take in a Duran concert. The die-hards, having spent the major part of a day holding their places in the queue and sparking up conversations with each other, made sure that everyone’s area was secure near the stage. Until the band began playing, the crowd even parted to make a pathway for fans to come and go through the growing throng of concertgoers. (You could say it’s a union of sorts.)

Yet once the show started, it was only about Duran Duran. The band, fresh off headlining the Cruel World festival, chose to open again with “Night Boat,” reworked for last year’s Danse Macabre album. Then there were favorites like “The Wild Boys,” “Hungry Like the Wolf,” and “Notorious,” which managed to get the people seated in the balcony onto their feet. 

But it was “Black Moonlight,” a single off the latest album, which started the heart of the show. Singer Simon Le Bon donned sunglasses as the occult-tinged video played on the screen above him. The band then launched into the classic track “Lonely in Your Nightmare” mixed with Rick James’ “Superfreak” (also from Danse Macabre). The Future Past single “Invisible” followed, reintroduced to the set list after young Metal Gear Solid fans gave the track new life on streaming services nearly three years after its official release. “Friends of Mine” and “Careless Memories,” perhaps Duran’s best live songs, closed out the exhilarating run.

Le Bon got serious for just a moment to dedicate “Ordinary World” to victims of war, whether Palestinians, Israelis, or Ukrainians. From there, the set list was mostly familiar territory for the average Duranie, filled with crowd-pleasers like “Planet Earth,” “White Lines,” and “The Reflex.” For me, it was a chance to admire John Taylor’s proficiency on bass and Nick Rhodes’ suit, black flecked with a yellow design—as stylish as ever. Duran added a too-short snippet of its disco-esque cover of “Psycho Killer” to “Girls on Film” to close out the main set list. By the time the band performed its now-standard encore of “Save a Prayer” and “Rio,” it was clear that the show had it all: Big hits for the casual fans and special moments for the Duranies (including a chant of “Roger! Roger! ... ” for Roger Taylor, the man behind the kit).

But what was most special: seeing and hearing my favorite band, once more close and clear—a real rarity for a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame act.

All photos by Karen Duran and Christopher Windle