Dog Collars and Rabbit Corpses

Recovered and Ready

That's exactly how I felt as the night approached and we got ready to go and see The Feeling at the Manchester Apollo, the venue this mammoth gig going week started at last Thursday. Tonight there were six of us going. The usual suspects being myself, Liz and Karen. However, tonight we were being joined by K junior her friend I and my nephew S. There was much excitement amongst the younger members of our group when they found out the support act were The Fray an American group currently starting out over here but with a track in the charts at the moment. So off we set, luck was on our side we found a parking space right outside the chippy, good said several of our younger members that will be chips when we come out then.

So into the gig, up to the bar for a quick drink (diet coke for the younger members and Liz), then off to take our places for The Fray.



The Fray are signed to Sony Music and the money behind them showed, they were not your usual support act. Obviously bigger in the states than here their slick musical performance showed along with their ability to work the audience. However, after you had heard the first couple of tracks you could not help feel that you had heard them all. Not unpleasant but all just a bit the same, Liz commented half way through the set "I think this would be the point where I shut my windows and drew the curtains" a fair point I think.

During the break however, the strangest thing happened. Rather the strangest question was asked, a man sidled up to us and wanted to know the name of Micheal Bolton's first hit. What concerned me the most was Liz was able to supply the answer! The man having remembered the name then proceeded to sing it to us, as he then felt compelled to do with every other song The Feeling played. You don't know how close we came!

By this time we had lost the youngsters who were now down by the front of the stage having weaved, barged, jostled and fought their way there. Content to stay in position to the left of the sound desk we settled down for the start of The Feeling.



They started with a video montage of their fans singing their hits taken from U Tube, very funny and an original way to start. This was followed by them rocking their way onto stage. High energy music with a high energy performance.

I was criticised recently for complaining about the Snow Patrol gig where I felt they had taken two superb albums and not lived up to the occasion when performing live. The Feeling were the opposite taking one good album and completely bringing it too life. They had energy, were together all the way through, worked the crowd well and left us wanting more, renditions of Video Killed the Radio Star and Fat Bottomed Girls added to their own more than capable set. Closing with Blue Piccadilly (my favourite track) the night for me was complete, all that was left now were those chips and home.

We arrived back at the car everyone piled in and Karen and Liz volunteered to go get the late night feast. Seconds later they were back, empty handed! Would you believe it, the chip shop closest to one of the largest music venues in Manchester, had just stopped selling chips to coincide with emptying out time. Left with no other choice we headed home happy but still ever so slightly peckish!

Labels: Gigs

posted by Stuart @ Wednesday, February 28, 2007