Feeder

Albert Hall, Manchester - 20th March 2024

We first came across Feeder in 1999 around the time of their second album Yesterday Went Too Soon. The singles 'Day In Day Out' and 'Insomnia' had both nudged our conciousness, but it was the release of the title track as a single in August that completely captivated us, and the CD never left our player for a number of weeks. It was no surprise to us then that the consequent album was well received critically and shot straight into the top ten of the UK charts; it was a whole world better than most of the alternative releases at the time, the independent sector in near terminal decline. Feeder continued to impress with April 2001's Echo Park, which was bright, cutting and commercial, and we continued to follow their progress until 2008's Silent Cry after which they appeared to fall off our radar, though we know not why.

It was somewhat of a surprise then when we saw that the band were touring their new record Black/Red, especially as the planned Manchester date was to be some sixteen days before the album was even released. Not that this appeared to bother the audience. The Albert Hall has a capacity of just over 2,200 and it was packed to the rafters. And it was clear that although we had let Feeder slip out of our sights, most of those present had certainy not done the same and about 80% of the audience, even up in the gods, were singing every word to every song and cheering like their lungs would burst. The warmth in the house was amazing and clearly felt by the band who responded in kind, making it one of the biggest love-ins we have ever seen which was more than a little touching. And it was clear that we weren't there just for a run through the band's greatest hits as they featured six tracks from the new album in their sixteen-song set, while adding two songs from Polythene (1997), Echo Park (2001), Comfort In Sound (2002) and Tallulah (2019), along with single tracks from Yesterday Went Too Soon (1999) and Pushing The Senses (2005).

Though intrinsically just a two-piece with songwriter/guitarist Grant Nicholas and bassist Taka Hirose, the touring version of Feeder doubles in size and we assume the additional musicians are long term associates Tommy Gleeson (rhythm guitar) and drummer Geoff Holroyde. Apart from the fabulously dressed Hirose who looks every bit a rock star, nobody else appears to have made an effort, drably dressed as they are in black vests, t-shirts and tracksuits which is somewhat disappointing. Yet Feeder never pretend to be more than they are. They have never looked to be posters on your wall or experimental musicians who break the mould; they have been content to produce solid, catchy alternative rock songs that can have you singing like an idiot and shouting for more. And it has worked very well for them with Black/Red soon after becoming their eleventh top ten album in twenty-five years and their fifth in succession. So Feeder are big business, but they come across as ordinary and decent. Their communication with the audience is matey and they clearly appreciate the appreciation being reflected back at them.

And the atmosphere is bubbling whenever the band move on to their biggest songs. 'High' and 'Feeling A Moment' see the floor bouncing while 'Buck Rogers' makes the whole building shake. It's a good time show and sometimes that is exactly what you need when you have been immersed in the general gloom that seems to have weighed anchor over the world. We leave determined to catch up on what we had carelessly missed, so job done all round.

Set List: ELF, Kyoto, Feeling a Moment, Lost in the Wilderness, Fear of Flying, Just the Way I’m Feeling, The Knock, Hey You, Playing With Fire, Come Back Around, Insomnia, Tangerine, High, Buck Rogers, Soldiers of Love, Just A Day.