Welsh outfit Feeder recently brought their “Black / Red” tour to the South West in a set that explored the past, the present, and the future of their dazzling discography.
One of the most striking features of the evening – and the tour more broadly – is that the LP that the show was celebrating is yet to be released. The upcoming double album (“Black / Red”) is set for release on April 5th, and throughout the set – amongst Feeder classics – Grant Nicholas and Taka Hirose gave a magnificent insight to what is to come later this year. From the opening notes of “ELF” to the closing number “Just a Day”, the sold-out O2 Academy was consistently met with the chorus of the near-seventeen-hundred ardent supporters, in what was a magical spectacle.
Following the support of the brilliant “The Now”, an upcoming band from Swansea, there was a half-an-hour wait for the main act. During this period, there was a noticeable buzz that rippled from wall-to-wall of the venue, as fans slowly made their way closer to the barrier for a glimpse at the post–grunge, indie rock, cult icons. As the time closed in on 9:00pm, the bright lights of the O2 Academy shifted into a dark, moody red and Feeder took to the stage. Following a hearty, South-West roar, the opening notes of “ELF” chimed. Grant Nicholas picked up his guitar and played a booming opening chord, much to the delight of the packed crowd. There was an audible venue-wide consensus, that this latest opening track is one that shall be celebrated amongst the band’s passionate followers – something that Hirose latched onto immediately is his unwavering, high-energy bass playing. As the opening track came to a close, Nicholas showed his appreciation for the Bristol crowd before quickly sending the venue into another frenzy with the intro to “Kyoto” – a song from their successful 2019 album “Tallulah”.
The start of the set had celebrated the successes of their three most recent albums, however that was soon to change as the distorted intro to Feeder classic “Feeling a Moment” blared through the speakers. Anticipation fluttered from one fan to the next, and collectively every single individual belted out the song’s chorus. As the track concluded, the indie quartet were met with a massive round–of–applause. Moving away from their recogniseable classics, Nicholas and Hirose further foreshadowed the promising album to come, through playing the band’s latest single “Lost In The Wilderness”. The advertisement of their upcoming LP was soon put aside though for a song that had not been played since 1998, until their recent trip to Torquay. Featured on their debut album “Polythene” (1997), Nicholas sceptically introduced the track “Polythene Girl”. Yet, true to their previous vocal capabilities the Bristol audience belted out the chorus, much to the delight of the band on stage.
Feeder continued to share their new singles amongst some of their old-school classics. Personally, the most memorable moment in this segment of the show was “High” – one of their breakthrough tracks as a band. As the song hit its first chorus, every single pair of arms were raised for the singalong hit and the band were almost outsung by the crowd in front of them. What ensued was magical. The song concluded, and the venue lights were raised from their dark reds and colourful blues to the ordinary lighting above. In this moment, one could scan the room to see the joy on every individual’s beaming face. Slowly, the audience started to sing the chorus themselves – “I’m going out for a while; so I can get high with my friends!” – in a moment that seemingly took Nicholas and Hirose aback.
As the set drew to a close, following “My Perfect Day”, and the group went backstage to recuperate, the tune that had been shouted throughout the whole evening grew louder. The noise of “doodoo doodoo” rippled through the anticipatory crowd, summoning the encore of what had been an unforgettable set. Before the calls were answered, Feeder returned to the noise of bagpipes and another of their new releases, “Soldiers of Love”. This uplifting track was followed by an all-time, indie classic: “Buck Rogers”. It was my first-time witnessing this masterful group, and I – alongside every other member of the audience – felt a certain buzz when the chords to this song began. This emotion slowly built as the song progressed to the first chorus. As Nicholas sang “It’s got a CD player” the crowd went delirious, and remained in that state for the entirety of the track. With one song left to play, the band showed their appreciation for the fervent support they had received from start to finish. Grant Nicholas went on to announce that the next tune was going to be their last – everyone knew what was to come. For one final time that night, the crowd shouted “doodoo doodoo” at the top of their lungs, in unison with the band on stage, serenading them with Bristol’s appreciation for their music. This was not “Just a Day”, it was an unforgettable evening that all like–minded indie-lovers should experience live, and I certainly will hope to again in the future.
Whilst they have only just celebrated their new album, “Black / Red”, in Bristol, Feeder are to return on April 9th to celebrate the full release of the double LP. The event shall take place in Rough Trade Bristol, and will include an intimate set, alongside an album signing. If their recent trip to the South-West is anything to go by, this will be a must-go-to concert.
Review by Johnty Tennant
Images by Belinda Enthoven Photography
Role - I am a passionate writer with an interest for reviewing concerts and music.
Available For - Gig reviews and artist interviews.
Qualification - Currently I am studying BSc in Politics and International Relations at the University of Bath.
First Concert - The first concert I ever attended was Coldplay at the Royal Albert Hall (2014). It was to promote the release of their ‘Ghost Stories’ album. I will never forget the call my dad gave me to say he had managed to get two tickets for the both of us. The whole experience was just pure joy. The relative intimacy (for Coldplay) of the Royal Albert Hall, will always make that night one of the best (if not the best) concerts I have ever attended.
Dream Concert - In all honesty this is too difficult to answer with just one concert. If I were to select a few artists that I would love to see, it would have to be: Hope Sandoval, feeble little horse, Greg Foat, Kurt Vile, Lucy Dacus (specifically playing ‘No Burden’ in its entirety), Jadu Heart and The Moldy Peaches.
There is also the difficulty of dream gigs that are not able to be done. These would be: Mahalia Jackson, Etta James, Ann Peebles, Karen Dalton, Leon Russell, Mojave 3, The Smiths, and George Harrison (“All Things Must Pass” just from start to finish).
