Shine Like They Do

INXS show off their new sensation

Comments (0) By Merritt Martin Thursday, Jun 29 2006

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I love INXS. (Yeah, yeah, shut up already.) They can go all adult contemporary and produce a musical, I really don't care. More than a decade of their music, ranging from ska and punk to Top 40, provided a soundtrack to my life, and for that they get my loyalty. Hell, the first album—back when they were still vinyl—I ever bought was Shabooh Shoobah. I once had an INXS birthday cake. I actually got to meet Michael Hutchence before he died and managed to play it cool until the ride home. I know they're musically not the best band ever, and Hutchence had some pitch problems, but they had this charisma about them that kept me devoted even through Elegantly Wasted (yeah, seriously). INXS was top-notch pop. So of course I lamented Rock Star: INXS but watched every episode, hating the idea that someone would re-front the band. But I gotta say, of all the contestants, JD Fortune was hands-down the best man for the job. He's got the sex appeal and attitude, plus pitch-perfect pipes. Let's just hope for his sake the band doesn't ask him to record a memorial song for Hutch on every album like they did on Switch. It's a new era, boys. INXS performs at Nokia Theatre in Grand Prairie 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Of course, someone just had to wipe the shit-eatin' grin off my face—Scott Stapp is opening. Tickets are $35 to $69. Parking is $12. Call 214-373-8000 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Thu., June 29, 7:30 p.m.