The Beat Surrender

I’ve been waiting for what seems like forever to see Feeder touring again, I think its been almost two years so was really hoping for a good night. Here is a band really interested in pushing new talent forward so much so that they ran a competition for the support slot in this mini tour. Winners for Manchester were a five piece called Unfinished Drawings from Skipton.

As they came on stage my first impression was just how young a couple of them looked, especially the mini Mark Owen look a like and yes he was a mini version of the mini man himself!!! They tried hard but it was clear to see that while obviously talented in there individual areas they didn’t have much experience of playing together.

Broken strings wont have helped but the long long empty gaps between numbers made the noise of the crowd chatting and laughing seem all the louder. The overall sound is folk/a bit Celtic mixed with rock. Not really my thing and unfortunately all the song went on a bit too long for me, I lost interest around half way through. I liked the last number as it was livelier and the band encouraged audience participation, which was good, unfortunately the inexperience with the mic meant the lead singer announced many of the numbers then half way through moved away so you couldn’t really hear what he said. I hope that they carry on because they did seem to have something worth developing but will need more experience on the live stage. Well done to Feeder to allow unknown bands to have this kind of exposure.

Feeder leapt to the stage (well sort of but the crowd really did go wild as soon as they caught a glimpse) and immediately went into Feeling The Moment, its not often the opening track has the majority of people if not leaping around at least clapping and nodding heads. I don’t think it would have mattered if Lead singer Grant Nicholas had sat down for his supper the crowd knew this word for word and happily took over the vocals. It was as if they’d all sat in their bedrooms practicing for the last two years.

Staying with the older numbers was Shatter before moving on to a new one We Are The People there next single release which will be on general release on 9th June, however my feeling is this won’t be a massive hit as most fans have already downloaded it for free. Miss You was next but not before we’d had massive chants for Taka, great bass player if ever there was one and for a change he doesn’t linger in the background looking moody (my opinion of bass players!!!) and gets involved with the crowd.

Again with the old, we were treated to a great rendition of Come Back Around, again much chanting and jumping about. New track Itsumo, I loved this real change in vocal style, a bit more pop but with the rock guitars in abundance. Anther strong new track is Tracing Lines, great bouncing beat slightly different guitars but with the requisite big guitar solo.

Grant asked for the crowds help with the next track Guided By A Voice as it was a new one and by his own words unashamedly a Pixies rip off. For me it was as strong a Feeder track as I’d heard all night a really good show off anthemia track with just the right amount of pop about it to keep everyone happy. One of my all time favourites next Just The Way I’m Feeling, followed by Pushing The Senses which was the first time I saw beer been thrown.

There was a strange crowd here tonight a real mix of older folk (been there seen it etc) and mid teens, with glamour girls, moshers, lots of larger people and me. Another new track Sonorous an amazing example of music going from loud and brash to quiet and gentle. Another favourite of mine and most of the crowd here tonight My Perfect Day. A bit of a discussion about the Reading/Leeds festival and the fact that Feeder are on the same stage as Slipnot!! Before moving on to Fires.

For the last couple of numbers we had Insomnia, massive singing from the crowd, it felt like the walls were bouncing with us. Grant then teased the crowd with a bit of a track but then stopped and said you’ll have to wait for the album for more, presume he means those who haven’t already downloaded it? Yesterday Went Too Soon and Lost And Found ended the set magnificently.

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