Feeder / O2 Academy / Bristol
Who doesn’t remember Buck Rogers and Just A Day ? But this wasn’t a trip down memory lane kinda show. Oh no, Feeder were here with a new album “Torpedo” out. Their latest release is a record that goes back to their early, heavier roots, with buzzing raw guitars and heavy fuzz, and pounding basslines. This is their fourth consecutive top-ten album and their tenth in total.
The band promoted this tour saying it was their heaviest in years and this is underpinned by “Torpedo”. Fans turning up to hear all their old favourites were in for a shock, and I had to laugh at a Twitter post, where someone Tweeted to moan that they’d travelled so far and they didn’t get their favourite song ! To which the band just replied “Torpedo” lol !!!!! It reminds me of an interview I once read with Gary Numan and he was asked why he hadn’t done the (at the time trendy) 80’s retro shows. Gary replied saying if that’s all I’ve got to play then my career is over ! Look how much better his new material is !!!
And this show felt very much like that. Yeah sure the encore consisted of the ever present Buck Rogers and Just a Day but the main set was stacked full of more recent tracks. Indeed the first three songs The Healing, Magpie and Born to Love You all come from the latest album, and wow…. What an opening we got ! Fast, raw, powerful tracks that set the tone for the night.
The riffs were huge and the eager Bristol O2 crowd were carried along, on a tidal wave of huge, dense, guitars and rolling synths. There were rare live outings for a couple of my favourite tracks from 1997’s “Polythene” in My Perfect Day and Radiation and both were brilliant. Probably the biggest favourite for the crowd was the anthemic High which had the whole crowd singing along in full voice, arms raised to the rafters.
My favourite song of the night was When it all Breaks Down from the new album, a great live track.
The usual encore ensued, but the opening chords of Buck Rogers was what many had been waiting for and the room explodes lol The South West crowd, scream out the lyrics, especially the icon line “Get a house in Devon, Drink cider from a lemon”…… Followed by the icon guitar line that introduces Just a Day the crowd delivering the Dodododo’s with gusto.
Grant Nicholas and Taka Hirose don’t disappoint. They promised us their heaviest set for years and boy was it. This was not a night to dwell, or rest on laurels of former glory, Feeder showed us they have plenty to offer, and actually…….. it’s pretty damn good !
Set List
The Healing
Magpie
Born to Love You
Feeling a Moment
Kyoto
Torpedo
Desperate Hour
Just the Way I'm Feeling
Fear of Flying
Tallulah
When It All Breaks Down
My Perfect Day
Radiation
Godzilla
High
Encore
Buck Rogers
Just a Day
Support was provided by Bristol duo Superlove. A really good set, and they took the opportunity on the big stage with both hands. The melodies are mellow before their full on noise-pop heavy riffs hit you in the chorus. The overall sound had a great hook to it, and draws you in, and the vocals are great. They delivered a confident set and had a real stage presence. Certainly one to watch and worth seeing if you get the chance. Check out their recently released 2002 album “Colours” too.
They certainly looked at home tonight, and were a great start to the night.
