Feeder at the o2 Academy, Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. February 8th 2011.
Feeder have gone from Indie Rock heroes and not getting the credit they deserve to one of the best live acts that currently ply their trade in front of fans, new and old. With their style of whimsical musings disguised in heavy, brutal, pounding riffs, it is no wonder they have become household favourites.
Even before the band came on stage, the cheering and applause that was there to greet them, and rarely seen in midsized venues, was a testament to the bands obvious ability and original sound that they can generate a fan base that crosses every spectrum of age and background. There are so few of these bands around that when they come to town it is almost deemed necessary to attend and take in the atmosphere of a truly phenomenal group of musicians.
Arriving on stage to Sergio Leone The Good, The bad and The Ugly and with the loud applause still ringing in their ears, the band burst straight into songs from a thirteen year recording history and seven critically acclaimed albums with songs as diverse and eclectic as Insomnia from the 1999 album Yesterday Went too Soon, This Town from the top twenty album Renegades and Feeling a Moment from 2005’s Pushing the Senses.
Vocalist and lead guitar player Grant Nicholas was on top form as he, drummer Karl Brazil and bass player Taka Hirose wrung out every ounce of sweat and emotion from the assembled crowd. The audience too were in fine voice as they joined in on every song and seemed to have a blast during the sensational Buck Rogers and the firm fan favourite Just a Day.
Feeder finished the night with three encores which thrilled the crowd beyond expectation including a truly stunning version of Nirvana’s Breed, a song that gets heavily overlooked as one of the best pieces of recordings that Nirvana produced.
All too soon, the evening was over. However the memories of the near capacity crowd will live long in the memory of having seen one of the finest live acts thrill and rock the Academy to its very foundations.
Ian D. Hall