THE PRODIGY

THE PRODIGY

The Prodigy are not a typical band. They are eccentric and odd, full of passion and raw energy. Their most recent release ‘Invaders Must Die’ seems to have captured more of the mainstream audience’s attention and it may be held accountable as an explanation for the rather eclectic gathering of fans crammed together in the O2 Academy. Tonight doesn’t have a normal “gig” feel to it; the police presence outside and inside the doors of the venue make it feel somewhat uneasy, not that any of the crowd take any notice of this, as when the first few beats of ‘World’s On Fire’ kick in, the night takes its first messy turn with the crowds suddenly starting to surge as the strobe lights fire. From the bar on the first floor to the main standing area and even upstairs on the crammed balcony area, it’s a mass of flailing limbs as people start to dance and jump. It must be said, the sound tonight is top form - the bass sounds just intense, the floor is shaking as every beat is hit. It seems that ‘Omen’ is a new Prodigy anthem, as it flows so well behind classics such as ‘Breathe’ and it gets every person in the room losing their collective minds. For those of you who haven’t experienced The Prodigy live, you must, basically. Even if you aren’t a big fan of the band, the energy displayed by Keith Flint and Maxim Reality will surely be enough to turn you to their point of view. Both men bound around the stage as if it’s their own and tonight, it may just well be. Flint with his typical gurns and mad facial expressions dances around like he’s on fire whilst Maxim takes hold at the helm, commanding the crowd at every moment. As the crowd dance the night away, the energy level would be expected to drop, but surprisingly it doesn’t - with the unexpected addition of a fantastically drunken failed attempt at a wall of death during Smack My Bitch Up. Prodigy are a band who continue to produce fantastic music, who never lose sight of their style and love for what they are doing. To see The Prodigy live is really something great; they have more energy than bands less than half their age who haven’t been around for as long as they have. Material presented tonight from ‘Invaders Must Die’ fits in just as well as songs like ‘Diesel Power’, stretching back from 1997 when ‘Fat Of The Land’ grabbed people by the heads and smacked it against any surrounding objects for the first time. Simply, The Prodigy are a band who seem to be untouchable and who stand the test of time. The songs still work perfectly and they just know how to rock a crowd live.

DATE:

VENUE:

Sunday 31st January 2010

Academy in Glasgow, UK

Reviews by Siobhan Hogarty