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Tomorrow (Friday, March 19), pre-orders will begin for the final installment of David Bowie's Brilliant Live Adventures series of concert releases on both CD and 2LP vinyl. David Bowie at The Kit Kat Klub (Live New York 99) captures his invitation-only performance at the intimate New York venue on November 19, 1999.  The gig was recorded and filmed for the Liveonline.net website and later issued as a promotional CD; this release marks its commercial debut and premiere on vinyl.  As with all previous Brilliant Live Adventures titles, both formats are likely to be snapped up quickly so those interested should order tomorrow morning once the links go live.  (As always, an exact time hasn't been revealed.)  The title is scheduled to ship on April 2.

It's likely that playing the Kit Kat Klub had some personal resonance for Bowie.  He was inspired by the original London production of Joe Masteroff, John Kander, and Fred Ebb's musical Cabaret as was referenced in the recent David Bowie Is museum exhibition.  When that musical returned to New York in 1998, it was housed in immersive fashion at the dilapidated Henry Miller's Theatre, a once-plush venue that had seen better days.  Designer Robert Brill transformed the entire space - a Broadway theatre turned porno house turned disco and back again - into the Weimar-era Kit Kat Klub depicted in Cabaret.  Though Cabaret moved to another theatre with a fascinating history, Studio 54, after just eight months, the deliciously debauched Kit Kat Klub remained in use.

The concert mixed by Mark Plati features Bowie with the accompaniment of Plati on guitar; Gail Ann Dorsey on bass and vocals; Page Hamilton on guitar; Sterling Campbell on drums; Mike Garson on piano, keyboards, and synthesizers; and Emm Gryner and Holly Palmer on background vocals.  The twelve tracks on David Bowie at The Kit Kat Klub include classics from both the seventies ("Life on Mars?," "Changes," "Always Crashing in the Same Car," "Stay") and eighties ("China Girl") as well as new songs in which an energized Bowie clearly relished performing.  "Thursday's Child," "Something in the Air," "Survive," "Seven," and "The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell" all hailed from Hours, his then-most recent album which was released under two months before the Kit Kat Klub date.  (This series' title also derives from Hours and its song "Brilliant Adventure.")

The Kit Kat Klub closed in April 2000; after being rechristened with its original name of Henry Miller's Theatre for the Broadway production of Urinetown in 2001, it shuttered for good in 2004.  It's since been demolished, with only the façade remaining for the rebuilt Stephen Sondheim Theatre.  But its invitingly seedy atmosphere inspired one of David Bowie's most memorable latter-day performances, and now that show will be available to close out Brilliant Live Adventures.  Look for it at DavidBowie.com, Rhino.com, and the European Dig! store (all accessible via the below link) tomorrow.

David Bowie, David Bowie at The Kit Kat Klub (Live New York 99) (Parlophone, 2021)

CD:

1. Life On Mars?
2. Thursday's Child
3. Something In The Air
4. China Girl
5. Can't Help Thinking About Me
6. Always Crashing In The Same Car
7. Survive
8. Stay
9. Seven
10. Changes
11. The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell
12. I'm Afraid Of Americans

LP:

Side 1

1. Life On Mars?
2. Thursday's Child
3. Something In The Air

Side 2

1. China Girl
2. Can't Help Thinking About Me
3. Always Crashing In The Same Car

Side

1. Survive
2. Stay
3. Seven

Side 4

1. Changes
2. The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell
3. I'm Afraid Of Americans