It's been a long time. I have seen The Prodigy on quite a few occasions but the last time was probably before the internet had been invented - in fact Charles Babbage was more than likely still in short trousers (for all those that didn't get that History gag Babbage is considered the 'father of the computer'!) which is why this is my first review of them.

Anyway, the journey up with my mate Paul was good. Plenty of good music conversation and putting the world to rights. We decided that of all the Prodigy collaborators, Clint from Pop Will Eat Itself was definitely cooler than all the others (including Liam Gallagher who got second place). We speculated on what the performance would be like as Maxim and Keith do not appear on the latest album 'Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned' (AONO)and also we wandered whether Keith would now be looking sensible (the last time I saw them he looked like Uncle Fester's evil twin brother).

On arrival of Waterloo, the traditional trip to The Hole In The Wall public house occurred We then went off to Brixton to get a meal and a few more sherberts (for anyone who has seen my other reviews you might be noticing there's a running theme with me and beer!). Interestingly, when I normally get off the tube there is always a few ticket touts about, but they seemed so conspicuous by their absence that Paul and myself wondered whether we had the right day! The pub we chose had an interesting array of characters including a man who was covered in more bling than you would see at a Chavs convention and bloke who was trying to sell us naughty imported DVD's (well I suppose it makes a change from flowers or the Salvation Army paper!). We also got chatting to a couple of girls from Ashford in Kent (hello Emma and Sophie - I won't say anything rude about your friends!) who were going to the gig (so we did have the right day, then!).

When we got into The Academy there was some DJ bloke on stage who managed to wet our appetites by playing 'Out of Space' and then all of a sudden The Prodigy were on stage. Perhaps it was the alcohol, perhaps it was the way the band exploded onto the stage or perhaps it was because I was jumping up and down like a right idiot, but I have no recollection of whatsoever of the first song! I know that Liam was behind a mountain of keyboards on a raised section of the stage, next to him was a drummer (to the left as I looked at it) and there was also a guitarist, but of course when Maxim and Keith take to the stage they demand your attention. Maxim was dressed in black, most noticeable was his combat trousers with loads of tassles hanging off him and his pair of massive boots which probably took an age to do up (I didn't have time to count how many holes but it reminded me of my old 24 holer DM's which I would often wake up wearing because it was too much hassle to take them off whilst innebriated!). He also had a tribal looking white stripe painted over his eyes. And as for Keith, has he mellowed with age, has he fairycakes! Dressed in a rather fetching black adidas suit with plenty of belts, the tongue, septum (the middle of the nose as not modelled by Daniella Westbrook a while back!) and ears all still sporting their bits of jewellery and, of course, plenty of eyeliner. Keith's barnet was a bleached effort shaved at the sides and fairly flat.

Right, well that's the bit for the fashion victims sorted what about the music? To coin a phrase, BANGING! 'Spitfire' was played with both Keith and Maxim took vocal duties rather than using the actual sample from the record and when the AONO stuff was played this was how it went. Early on in the set they did 'Their Law' and again the two frontmen took vocal duties which was a bit different for the band, as every time I have seen them play that song it has been done with the PWEI sample and Maxim MCing over the music. 'Breathe', 'Minefields' and 'Firestarter' represented 'Fat Of The Land'. As well as 'Their Law' Jilted Generation was also represented by my favourite Prodigy track 'Poison'. Of the new stuff 'Girls' was superb as was latest single 'Hot ride'. I had a lot to concentrate on, though.The lighting added well to the atmosphere and it is always nice to see plenty of strobe action. The bloke in front of me was headbanging so furiously that I had to make sure that I was not going to lose any teeth! The people behind were all trying to get in front of me (they all failed though, cause I'm quite a big bloke!) On occasion, Keith and Maxim got off the stage and walked into the pit between stage and security barrier. Brixton Academy was rocking, big style! The set lasted for about an hour and then the encore was about 15 minutes. A Prodigy set is so frantic, though, that any more would probably be too much. They finished with the much maligned, un-PC, fantastic in my book 'Smack My Bitch Up'. This used to be the song that The Prodigy played first, but it worked excellently as a track to finish on. And, then all of a sudden the Prodigy vanished into the night (well the backstage area, but that doesn't sound as dramatic!).

We managed to get a post gig beer down the hatch before getting the train home. Buzzing, but exhausted, I have to say that it was a bit annoying having to get on a bus at Winchester due to engineering works, but c'est la vie! The walk from Southampton Airport to my house was absolutely freezing, but at least my heart had been warmed by the fact that I had been to another fantastic gig. It's been a good year for music.

Ric Mansell

Sorted


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