Fatboy Slim Manchester Arena February 28th 2019

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 .