 |
| |
|
| |
Live Review
by SashaS
4-12-2004
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Keith Flint adds to The Prodigy quality |
|
Live: The Prodigy
Brixton Academy, London
Friday, December 3, 2004
The Prodigy: re-awakened, re-geared and ultra-thrilling
There is a sudden impression of Party with the Devil, the moment Prodigy members take to the stage! Due to a sense of ‘Sympathy For The Devil’ that is enhanced with the band’s all-black attire: Keith Flint sports racing stripes from armpits to his sneakers [to tri-line his energetic input] and top-hat initially, Maxim in his punky, maxi man-skirt, Liam Howlett centre stage like a latter-day Rick Wakeman…
The music was blasting mightily from the opening touch of keys, pumping rhythms to engage every nerve ending and initiate muscle response [often involuntary]… Even my earplugs were happily vibrating in me shell-likes! The sound is so irresistible to even make David Blunkett forget his paternal battle with the adulterous ex-lover.
The Prodigy music is still computer driven but with organic elements [drums and guitar]. The old hits are sung-along by this crowd in the Friday-night mood. They mainly get it but there are moments when more experimental/futuristic sounds of the current album ‘Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned’ leave the fans decidedly - fazed. Crowd is more than responsive to the old faves, such as ‘Breathe’ and ‘Poison’, although not adverse to ‘The Way It's’.
‘Firestarter’ is re-worked, re-cut, redux’d to work like a doomsday machine for senses! It was an even affair until about 45 minutes into the set when the audience totally capitulated and The Prodigy could have led them into a demonstration against… Whatever you got!
At the same time, the band is apparently not a very eco-friendly entity because they use so much electricity to illuminate Milton Keynes for a few days. Anyhow, with the planet being killed by our concentrated efforts, there is only one thing left to do - party! The staging is heavy on lights and visuals, the punctuation goes to the point of completely overwhelming the members: facing the stage you get colour explosions that obscure the players, an extravaganza to rival any rock spectacle you could name.
The only disappointment were the audience: too predictable, too ordinary, too many people who, probably, were here to relive and re-enjoy their own ‘rebellious’ past. Looking for an echo of a rave in Brixton? The Prodge almost create the atmo and the fans respond with maximum motion [passing for dancing in a sold-out auditorium], be it amidst the stalls [heaving] or the balcony [shaking] occupants… Alas, the newer tracks, the former [‘Girls’] and current [‘Hotride’’ singles, are not the sounds acceptable to this yob-urbia!
“It’s been too f**king long!” Maxim raps early in set. The Prodigy are back - larger than… Memory. Technology used as weapon of entertainment for the XXI century edition that is unleashed after such a silent spell…
Mr Howlett blamed their seven year absence on crisis of confidence?! By now, an anxiety utterly belonging to the past tense. The Prodigy have always had a knack to combine Happy Monday’s hedonistic celebrations with Nine Inch Nails’ epic sonicscapes but much more socio-politically aware. It feels even more so these days!
Tour dates (remaining):
04 Dec. 2004 - Brixton Academy, London
06 Dec. 2004 - Apollo, Manchester
08 Dec. 2004 - Academy, Glasgow
10 Dec. 2004 - Ulster Hall, Belfast
11 & 12 Dec. 2004 - Olimpia, Dublin
SashaS
23-8-2004
|
|
|
