Fatboy Slim
Manchester Arena
28th February 2019
Last year I wanted so desperately to see 'Norman Cook' aka 'Fatboy Slim' Djing at the Albert Hall in Manchester, I bought tickets and then found out he won't be on til 2 or 3am or so in the morning it would of been a ridiculous task getting a train back at 5am so I cancelled my plans and sold the tickets.
So now '2019' 'Fatboy' is back doing the rounds (Literally on a 360 arena tour) around the country, I bagged a ticket for the Manchester Arena show, I was very excited I didn't buy it in the presale there were loads left it seems this time.
I arrive to the 'Arena' pumped and excited, to the welcome of a HUGE 'Smiley Acid ' face on the LCD screen up above the round stage, I'm in the right place, the city of 'Dance Culture' !!
Support is from 2 young Dj's 'Cousns' mixing a 'Chilled' set, starting at 7pm and going more 'Balearic House' by the end hardly anyone had arrived yet except the opposite side of the stage which apparently was full.
8pm time and another guest DJ 'Eats Everything' takes to the stage the lights go down, we're in the club !!,he starts warming up the crowd, I'm not expecting much but he was bloody brilliant, he had me dancing I mean really dancing proper 'Raving' and none more so than when he played 'Give It To Me Baby' (I'm so addicted) I bloody loved that tune back in the day.
He also mixed 'Chemical Brothers' 'Do It Again' and ended his set with 'Blue Monday' by 'New Order' so after such an amazing uplifting set, things can only get better when 'Fatboy Slim' gets here right ??
So 9pm or just after he arrives he's in the room , we're in the room are we ? He's dressed for an 'Ibiza' Style set here I think the floor behind me is not exactly full ,the show not exactly a sell out with seated areas netted off.
No Matter we're here or are we ?? the crowd welcomes 'Fatboy' on the stage barefoot as he walks over to the decks, and on it his 'Apple Mac' laptop reads clearly from the back
'This Aint No Disco' .. isn't it ?
Headphones on and dare I say the atmosphere is getting palpable and exciting as he begins with 'Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat' and part samples 'Renegade Master' at this point 'I'm expectant the roof is going to lift once he gets going!! waving his arms in the air headphones off, then half off stretching the coiled cord of technology as moves between the decks, the lighting rig's like a giant octopus stretched out behind us it reminds me of Londons o2 Arena.
He goes to pick up two klaxon horns he presses one and sounds it as the other appears to of failed the crowd dancing look like they are having fun ,it's only when I've seen 40 mins of the set I realise hang on what about his tunes, where are they? in between wild west samples and various 60's references, No Hit Singles yet, surely can't be !?
Looking up at the big 360 stage I'm standing underneath, I think I know why this isn't working... for me anyway, watching him perfect his art he could be in his own room or studio getting psyched up and not in a 21,000 capacity venue most people head off to the bar and its looking almost like a disco.
The lasers are interesting vibrant colours, the spotlight not doing me any favours in my face but hey ho, I'm waiting for something to happen aside from C20 gas cannons and confetti, there's no smiley balloons tonight either like on the Twitter account he uses.
He beams "Ok Manchester I want everyone to get low, go low as you can even if you're crouching", he's sat on the floor now prompting everyone to follow his lead,so some people do along the barriers, though most people don't, most still dancing with their drinks in their own worlds, so anyway we do and when the tune lifts up we all stand at least I do thinking that's it , I don't think anyone knew when to stand neither did he.
Snippets of 'Right Here,Right Now' and then the bizarre sound 'Male Stripper' is mixed in with a rap tune just audiable as the track loops in and the visuals above the screen have 'Fatboy Slim' in facepaint and crazy glasses.
He's now lipsynching and chants all the words to get the crowd going. which involves 'Fatboy' saying "What the Fxxk " and I'm thinking "What Fxxk am I doing here ?" as I join in with little interest wishing I was anywhere but here remembering 'The Chem's and 'The Prodigy' all energetic exciting performances ,where is the old skool material.
Absent a long list 'Going Out Of My Head', 'Everyone Wants a 303', 'Cornershop' his mix of Brimful Of Asha', 'Psyche Rock', 'Weapon Of Choice' we just about got a taste of 'Rockerfellar Skank'.
Finally 'The Doors' sample and video clip of 'Bird Of Prey' which then goes into the 2nd ironic sample of the night ...'Rolling Stones'
'I Can't Get No Satisfation' no I really can't.
I didn't come here to hear a DJ set that could of been any random DJ on stage to hear samples of 'Beyonce' 'Single Ladies' and miss out every track that gave him Huge credibility that he deserves, but that's exactly what I got with 'Praise You' ending the 1 and half hour set, Yellow Streamers falling down about the stage front, more confetti and he waves and bows and escapes off stage via the stage left with revellers making a beeline for him.
I didn't hang around for the multiple Pizzas he bought some lucky fans as a treat from Deliveroo as I noticed on his Twitter page, I had no time had to dash for my train I felt like I wasted a night and I went home feeling flat.
I'd advise anyone who wants to see him play a set to go to his residencies in small clubs the late night sets, as he dosen't play his own material and saves it for that really, utterly disappointed.
That weekend after thinking about what great Dance Acts I have seen actually smash it live, there was bad news from 'The Prodigy' camp it was reported 'Keith Flint' 'The Prodigy's own Dancer ,Mc and voice of a lost punk generation to million's... died at age 49 and that very upsettingly for all the fans and his family it was suicide.
I dedicate this blog to 'Keith' himself outspoken and one who told it like it was and may he be happier wherever he is now he'll be missed very much ,he was my introduction to the Rave world .
White Lies -Five Tour UK
February 2019
Leeds,Liverpool,Manchester, and Birmingham.
Last summer I went to London' to see an intimate show in 'Portobello' the band showcased potential single 'Believe It' the crowd loved it and we knew they'd come back with a belter album.
7 Months later 9 songs on their 5th album surfaced in the lead up to the albums release and the lead up to a full UK Tour, the most recent of those songs is what I consider to be their most relevant Lead single in years 'Tokyo' with a stormer of a chorus that track has a life of it's own.
The bands tour featured a 'Vip Experience' where fans could meet the band, watch the soundcheck and get items signed,ideal for those with families and those that couldn't stay back late to meet them after their shows and unique opportunity to chat with the band.
One thing I did notice is that due to bad weather and looming 'HMV' Administration (Now Thankfully saved by a lucrative business deal) The Pre-orders hadn't filtered through to everyone so I hadn't listened to most of tracks before my 1st show.
Leeds Academy tonight I'm looking forward to hearing the new material in full, in soundcheck I already had a sneak peek of 'Time To Give' 'Kick Me' and 'Jo' for the first time played live, As we go back in for the main show the venue fills up on the floor and support band 'Boniface' come onto the stage at 7.30pm, they are from 'Winniepeg' Canada they remind me of 'Wild Beasts' vs early 'White Lies'.
They play a half an hour set with some memorable moments in between one such moment was noticing their drummer had borrowed 'Jack's' Drum kit from the previous Tour (the blue one from 2013-2017 tours) Yes I know I'm sad for noticing this.
The band start earlier tonight 8.20pm start because they promise us a longer set, the music in the background as they arrive on stage is 'Talk Talk' 'Give It Up' (before singer Mark Hollis had sadly passed away later this month, the band were always huge fans of his work ).
They kick off with 'Time To Give' followed by the smash 'Farewell To The Fairground' and 'Believe It' and from 'Big TV' album 'There Goes Our Love Again', quite a few from the last album 'Friends' including 'Take It Out On Me'.
They are still perfecting and tweeking the new set as the tour rolls on but the new songs are well received by the crowd, 'Bigger Than Us' was further up the set before the encore and they had closed with 'To Lose My Life' for that show instead, I thought it was a clever move, as was the lighting crew's clever illumination of the album's 'Five' sign in Braille not seen until show 3 by myself.
Moving on to 'Liverpool' next after playing a few dates I couldn't link up to.
Tonight's venue is Liverpool Olympia Theatre quite beautiful and atmospheric hidden on the outskirts of 'Liverpool' away from the busy city centre (It was a remote area to get to) the crowd enjoying it not as loud as the Leeds lot, although a few fans were having a mosh towards the back, late comers with beers in hand no doubt, tonight though 'Finish Line' is not quite lifting this mainly scouse crowd.
Manchester and tonights show at venue favourite 'Albert Hall' is totally 'Sold Out' , Vip is Sold Out the crowd tonight are on fire singing all the words, I notice the fans on the balcony really into it that it actually feels like they are with us on the floor it's a fantastic atmosphere.
Especially during the singles 'Unfinished Business' and 'To Lose My Life' (which had now moved back to before the encore where it was before ) the new songs 'Kick Me' and 'Jo' and 'Never Alone' sounded stronger and 'Tokyo' blew the roof off the place the bands joy at the crowd receivership of the new songs was visable to see, 'Death' was a belter the crowd moved, what I haven't mentioned yet was the special solo of 'Change' that 'Harry' performs on 'Tommy's now seated keyboards, he walks on and says "It's just me, hope that's ok this is a song from our third album", shyly he takes a seat and begins the emotive 'Change' under Blue lighting and minimal atmosphere it worked very well too.
During the encore my fav new song 'Fire & Wings' is truly taking shape as the gear shifts up and 'Harry's newly honed guitar skills reminiscent of strains of 'Pink Floyd' and 'Jack's truly epic drumming bring the song to a crescendo, before closing with 'Bigger Than Us' and promising they will be back soon.
A few days later my last stop is 'Birmingham Institute' and again Vip Sold Out ,the crowd again lively as I found out from 'Tommy' that I miss half of whats going on behind me being at the front,there were some blokes hugging and singing to each shouting the words during 'Unfinished Business' and apparently a circle pit in 'Manchester' well I can believe that lol.
During the show tonight as the encore was due to start people were stamping their feet asking for more , a superb show had by all but 'Finish Line' now dropped out from the set but there was a noticeable shift in the energy the crowd were alive.
It's more than a little possible the lads will tour again in some capacity at end of the year to celebrate their ten years whether that will be a big tour or take in small venues locally I'm not sure yet neither are they, but they want to mark it.
There is no band quite like 'White Lies' they are the most giving passionate rock band I've had the pleasure to know for 10 yrs, so that's it for now I'm sure I'll see them sooner than later 😉 but til then see you soon music lovers !!!
LMi xo
