ShareFeeder performing their The Best Of Tour at Rock City Nottingham on Friday 16th March 2018.
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
Last night a sold out Rock City saw Feeder’s penultimate concert of their current tour which is to promote their greatest hits album, The Best Of, which features hits spanning twenty one years of the band’s history.
But starting the evening off was a young indie quartet hailing from Leeds called Marsicans, who could scarcely believe that they were performing in front a very healthy crowd who embraced them from the start.
Comprising of lead vocalist James Newbigging, bassist Rob Brander, lead guitarist Oli Jameson and drummer Cale, they opened with a punchy up tempo song, Friends, that was filled to the brim with electrifying guitar riffs.
With 2017 having seen them sign a record deal, make the BBC Radio 1 playlist and release an EP that hit a million plays on Spotify, this is a band that are definitely going places.
With their harmony laden sound and dynamic playing they breezed through the likes of Problems, Arms Of Another, and Swimming. Their latest single, Wake Up Freya lowered the tempo and showcased this tight knit band, whilst Too Good with its catchy hypnotic tune and great chorus had the crowd singing along. Finishing with the energetic Far Away with its wonderful harmonies and lyrics that are loaded with melancholy, Marsicans are already more than capable of dominating the stage. With their contagious enthusiasm they are definitely a band to watch out for.
A lot has changed in the last 25 years, but Feeder in its various guises has continued to enjoy success and not only has maintained a loyal fan base but with their recent material, has managed to bring new fans on board. The main stays of Grant Nicholas and Taka Hirose came on to the stage to a Rock City crowd that had been shouting their name.
Never afforded the critical respect of Manic Street Preachers or the commercial success of their fellow Newport rockers, Stereophonics, but what they do have is an excellent back catalogue that so easily filled this two hour plus set. Opening with Feeling A Moment from their 2005 Pushing The Senses album, the place lit up as the crowd tried to grab footage of one of their favourite tracks being played live.
With bassist Hirose and vocalist Nicholas both being over 50, there could have been some slowing down, but the years have been very good to them both. Nicholas’ enthusiasm remains as undimmed as ever as he still sports his shaggy dog locks and boyish grin when he made light work of the likes of Shatter and Renegade.
With a very talented touring band, Hirose sporting his Mohawk, shades and steely stare, looked even younger as he moon walked around the stage during Lost And Found which was a highlight of the set.
1997s breakthrough single High was dedicated to the band’s late drummer, Jon Lee who passed away in 2002 and had the crowd singing along to the chorus, whilst Stereo World was given a rare outing. Their later songs such as Universe Of Life, the moody Figure You Out and the brilliant Eskimo all sat comfortably with the likes of oldies such as Insomnia, Cement and Come Back Around.
Finishing the main set with the magnificent Just The Way I’m Feeling before Buck Rogers received the loudest cheer of the night, Feeder had achieved what they had set out to do, namely entertain in the way only they know how.
Silent Cry and Children Of The Sun held up a five song encore, which also included Yesterday Went Too Soon and the thrashing chaos of Seven Days In The Sun before Just A Day saw them almost fall foul of the Rock City curfew.
With a huge rare smile and a wave to the crowd, Nicholas and Hirose left the stage having delivered an incredible trip down memory lane with one of the best and most enduring rock acts in recent memory. Thankfully, slowing down for Feeder seems far from the agenda.
