The Prodigy Manchester Apollo 14.12.2017

The Prodigy

Manchester Apollo

14.12.2017

 

It was 2005 when I last seen these guys play live, I've been a fan since 'The Experience' Era,and I have all their albums since.

 

 

I missed the 'Invaders Tour' but was determined to get a ticket to the show in the homeland.

 

 

Pre Sale Disaster!!! I was starting to panic can't miss them so joined a Facebook Group 'Buy Sell Prodigy Tickets' (Thanks Guys) I managed to nab one pretty quick as demand was so high for all of the shows I even paid months ahead to secure one.

 

 

Lots of 'Warriors' were searching for tickets too, everyone helped each other when tickets were listed and swaps ,but some fans sadly got scammed , so many sick bastards making a profit out desperate fans it was shameful.

 

 

Tonight is obviously a total sellout its not often they play smaller venues, DJ is playing hip hop and old skool beats and it was getting the party started, on arrival early I had the perfect spot on the barrier it's gonna get ruff.

 

 

Atmosphere buzzing tonight it's been a long time since they even played the UK and Apollo is a small venue compared to 50,000 festival goers they attract in Europe,its no wonder its the hottest ticket in town.

 

 

The 'Ragga Twins' are 2nd on to support , a duo from London with Jamiacan roots, doing a set of predominantly 'Hip Hop Ragga House' dressed in Blue denim t-shirts and bandanas over their dreadlocks bringing it back old style. The 2 Guys are in there 40's now but still know how to get the crowd going, even though the venue just filling up in seats above. 

 

 

Just after 9pm slightly quiet apart from the PA and noise of the crowd drinking and chatting, the lights descend. 

 

The stage is set, a figure in a fur looking sleeveless hood walks onto the stage as he begins his rap on the new track 'Resonate', and the a well built muscly 'Keith Flint' joins 'Maxim Reality' on  the mics for a fast paced track never played in the UK before til these shows. 'Liam' is tucked away off to the right behind his stack of synths and 'Leo' on drums and 'Rob' in front of me on guitars takes the crew to 5 !! 

 

 

Jacket off, 'Maxim' is wearing an Animal print tshirt, and has the familiar white stripe across his eyes, he shouts encouragement to the crowd as 'Omen' starts the crowd go mental, as 'Keith' swaggers in front of me getting us to sing the words back, and bouncing around the stage like Tigger running off with all the honey, it's so fast paced the energy on stage is pure Power !. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Onto tracks from the album 'Day Is My Enemy' , 'Nasty' and 'Wild Frontier', 'Keith' get's athletic again with 'Maxim' marking his every move on stage, 'Liam' melts in the background providing the backbone of the sound, famous huge Ant logo just above the drumkit section.

 

 

 

Back to the old skool now for 'Everybody In The Place'  all be it a shorter more updated version and more bass beats, cracking tune still though always was. 

 

From old skool to Brit Pop Dance of the 90's anthem 'Firestarter' their biggest chart hit from 'Fat Of The Land' later begins another classic 'Voodoo People' as another track starts 'Maxim' decides to get down off the stage in front of me, and walk down past us ,and back again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He wasn't done yet when he continued going to the back of the venue where my friend was having a drink at the bar when she came face to face with 'Maxim' she told me she was so shocked that she said "Maxim what are you doing here " he was staring at her weirdly priceless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile back at the front 'Maxim' makes it back to the stage after walking past us again he tapped my hand as he past ,I wasn't looking, he'd been stamping people hands, and he said "Where are all the voodoo people with stamps on them " I wasn't stamped .

 

 

Then it was time for some new songs 'Get Your Fight On' and 'Need Some 1', its not long before it's getting heavy and loud with 'Their Law' followed by the mighty rhymes like a viper 'Poison' .

 

 

It was 'Keith's turn to greet the crowd as he steps off the stage for 'Smack My Bitch Up' to walk past us, everyone surges to grab him, great track live, encore time the guys come back on for 'No Good Start The Dance' the crowd are lovin it, its really squashed here up front a lot of shoving from a mainly male audience,  and during the show my highlights were 'Rob' on guitar throwing me gifts of minature Mars bars and  plectrums 1 of which I caught, 'Maxim' threw opened bottles of water all of which I dodged ..just.

 

 

 

Next up 'Breathe', good one... so squashed trying to.. as apparently a mosh pit was at the back of us, they ended on 'Take Me To The Hospital', I couldn't believe it was all over I'd waited months and it was finished.

 

 

What a Ride!!

 

What A Rush ,Awesome show but expected nothing less for me 'The Prodigy' are up there with 'Chemical Brothers' for Live Dance Acts that really bring the noise.

 

 

Next time we go Djing with a Belgian Duo that have worked with 'Muse' and 'Pulp' to name a few in the end of the year blog.

 

 

Happy New Year Gigger's. 

 

 

 

LMi xo