Kansas City misses out on some major tours, but it also has the good fortune to lure stadium-size artists to smaller-than-usual venues. The Pixies, packing arenas elsewhere, visited the cozy Uptown Theater last weekend, and Pixies fan David Bowie played on the regal, relatively intimate Starlight stage during a rare KC stop in May. Charismatic yet down to earth, Bowie chatted amiably with the audience between hits ("Fame," "Heroes," "China Girl"), album cuts and new tracks that sounded far more intriguing live than on record. Bowie might have outgrown Ziggy Stardust-era excess, but he still delivered a light show to rival the aurora borealis and an accomplished backing band that's equally adept at thick funk and stark soundscapes. He's in his golden years, but the ravages of age and decades of hard living have taken no toll on his still-fabulous face or his pitch-perfect voice. He almost seems extraterrestrial at this point, and standout shows like this one ensure that fans will keep loving the alien.
