The woman next to me at the concert said that JD completely blows Michael Hutchence away. She explained that Michael was already in decline so it made sense for him to kill himself and now he’s in hell looking up at JD wishing he were still alive. Somehow I avoided decapitating this woman and said, “We’ll see.” She bought me a beer, so that helped. I hadn’t watched Rockstar INXS because I thought it was obscene and I had only heard the new album once. But I wanted to see INXS in concert and, until Rhythm ‘n Hues can bring back a virtual Michael, this was as good as it was going to get.

And she was wrong. JD is a fantastic performer, but is devoid of passion, sensuality and authenticity. He looked like he was having a great time pretending to be the lead singer of INXS. The band sounded great, but the disparity between JD and Michael cast them in an INXS tribute band light. Where the Beck concert was authentic and fun, this one seemed manufactured and cold. Needless to say, I didn’t get stuck in traffic trying to leave the ampitheater.