Time flies when you’re a grown up, being forced to do grown up stuff. When I took my seat at the AO Arena in Manchester on Friday night I realised it had been 26 years since I’d first seen the Prodigy. 26 years!
I bought their second single ‘Charly’ in August ’91 when they were a bunch of hyper fast ravers, exploring that strange hyperkinetic hinterland between rave and rap. 32 years later here I am. Then the world took full notice when they added rock to the mix and for a spell their music soundtracked every car theft and chase on TV. I loved them and they still feature heavily on every exercise mix I ever make.
Now of course, they are a good man down and the 2023 Army Of The Ants Tour marked their return to live; would there be a newfound vulnerability in their music? an acknowledgement of the fragility of it all?
Nah, bollocks to all that, it just meant that there was only one prowling potty mouth on stage, bellowing bellicose encouragement for all the warriors knocking and/or dancing themselves senseless to the biggest din I’ve heard in a long while.
A 30ft hooded figure towers over the sound desk, facing towards the stage. I idly wondered if he was going to come jerkily to life avec le Iron Maiden. No, its better than that, much better.
The band lurch onto stage to the sound of the growling ‘Breathe’, which is a perfect opener – we all leap to our feet and dance; not to sit down again all night. The bass is punishingly loud and once again the Prodigy just lay waste to any idea that they don’t rock; they may be the loudest thing I’ve ever seen.
They serve it all up, the beats and melodies stirring Pavlovian* responses in my tired old legs and hips, which know exactly which way to twist and spasm for each track. As always the grindingly slow and heavy ‘Voodoo People’ and the hands in the air ‘No Good (Start The Dance)’ make me happiest. They no longer do vocals on ‘Smack My Bitch Up’, a sign of the times indeed and one I heartily agree with, after all we still have the tune.
About 8 songs in the hooded statue bursts into life, lasers shoot from his eyes in three places and where they hit the stage and screens they burn an outline of Keith Flint. An outline that animates and dances mockingly, unmistakeably as the Prodigy crash through ‘Firestarter’ without vocals in tribute to their fallen comrade. As tributes go, it is a joyous bludgeoning, akin to a Viking funeral, nothing is said, nothing more is needed.
The light show in general is just incredible, absolutely top-notch as we dance, twitch and gurn our way through the set. Maxim is a sweary, slightly terrifying presence as a frontman, Liam Howlett just gets on with his stuff, while Rob Holliday prowls the stage relentlessly throwing appropriate guitar shapes and live drummer Leo Crabtree pounds a beat.
They play for just over an hour and a half and it really is enough, I couldn’t take too much more, in a good way. They play my current fave ‘Invaders Must Die’ and a madcap ‘Out Of Space’ during the encore and I’m in heavy dance heaven.
The thought occurs as I wend my sweaty way home that the Prodigy are the perfect band to score these perma-end times that we inhabit. The beats that underpin it all are so martial, so exacting that any resistance would be futile, they really do take us all and pummel us into an army of ants**.
It was a brilliant life-affirming slice of hedonistic frenzy rage and aggression, just the ticket for a rainy Friday night.
1206 Down (still).
*it’s a science-y term, something to do with loving meringue desserts I think.
**although given a sizable portion of the audience’s age now, Army Of Aunts might be a more apt tour name.
Glad you had a great time out Joe. Wonder who is on the hook for the electric bill though.
Cheers Deke – I get it, they’re gonna wish they charged a whole lot more for the tickets when they get next month’s bill.
Amazing gig I was blown away how good they were with keef no longer gob bless .
Hi Mark, thanks for stopping by. I loved it, I really needed something that was that heavy and uplifting too. I think they did Mr Flint proud and I was very impressed by how they played the tribute to him too. I’d go see them again next a heartbeat.
Looks stunning! Sounds like a good time was had.
It was great thanks, I’d not been to an arena show for years now. I picked the right one too.
Needs more lasers!
I know, I just wish they’d made more of an effort with the lights.
It seems that even successful musicians are worried about rising energy bills.
All looks good, glad you enjoyed.