November 5, 2007 — TO celebrate the release of the upcoming Duran Duran album, Red Carpet Massacre, the Brit rockers wanted the perfect frame for their latest painting, so they booked Broadway s majestic Barrymore Theatre for a two-week run. Sure, it sounds interesting that they d choose as unusual a setting for an extended showcase of a new work in New York, but the perception of elegance worked against this band that has one foot on the dance floor and the other on mainstream charts.

Friday s show on Broadway was too stuffy for rock unless you believe in wearing a jacket and tie to a concert or wanted to do some star-spotting. Moby s bald head could be spied gleaming in the orchestra; Mary-Kate Olsen s meatless frame quivered in the balcony, and Donald Trump (who started in the orchestra, but had his seat moved to a balcony box after he realized he might have to stand) showed off groove moves that needed a good oiling.

Not to be mean to the scene, but the pumping music of the DD wild boys felt very sedate in the Barrymore. Sweating wasn t allowed onstage or in the seats, where sophistication became musical suffocation. The band took a risk right off by presenting the new album song for song. It went well considering it s all new and not yet available to the general public.

During the hourlong presentation of those dozen songs singer Simon Le Bon s tenor was beautiful whether he was doing a midtempo ballad like Falling Down or a jumpy dance piece such as Skin Divers. While the new material played well, it was used to warm up the house for the assault of hits that was to follow but never arrived. If you were to name Duran Duran s three most famous hits, you wouldn t get an argument by saying Hungry Like a Wolf, Wild Boys and Rio.