Feeder @ Cockpit
By Holden DeForgeProof if there ever was that this is the best advice I can give to anyone who loves music. WATCH THE SUPPORT BAND. It was a few years ago at a Reef gig that I sauntered into Leeds University and was promptly blown away by a three piece from London via Newport and Japan.
Tonight Feeder play the Cockpit, there is no local support band as previously suspected as the gig is being filmed for NME.com - can we have our CD back then Feeder you blaggards!! Unless you want to keep it and give it to some nice record industry execs. There's an air of anticipation. New single "Buck Rogers" has been getting rave reviews from fans and critics alike, later we learn that it has been A-listed by Radio One.
Finally, after all 723 of Grant Nicholas' pedals have been checked and the fairy lights around the stage have been switched on, Feeder take to the stage. The room is packed and these kids wanna rock!! Opening with a couple of new tracks, including the aforementioned new single, you would never guess it as people bounce around like they've been listening to these songs forever. Take' on bass is a great conductor of the mosh pit, letting everyone know when they should be pogoing simply by leading by example. The sound is excellent and does the neatly crafted guitar lines and Grant's pitch perfect voice full justice.
We're treated to old favourites such as "My Perfect Day" and "Insomnia" along with an abundance of songs from the forthcoming long player, "Echo Park". Of these Nurofen is definitely a highlight "if we get sued and have to change the name then you'll always know this as Nurofen" Grant informs us before unleashing a howitzer of melody and dirty guitar riffing upon us, it seems as if the room may explode with the energy. It's a song that sums up Feeder nicely. They rock big time yet manage to blend that with the sweetest of melodies providing a sound texture that makes your ears feel like they've just had Mariella Frostrup whispering filthy secrets into them. Harsh and dirty yet sweet and seductive at the same time.
"High" is exactly that. A skilfully crafted song that rocks live just as much as it is mellow on CD.It closes the set perfectly. The audience are damp and sticky but baying for more.and the boys duly comply. Grant teases us by breaking into Foo Fighters "Everlong" but the real treat comes when we get "Sweet Sixteen" from the mini-album "Swim". Everyone is in the air, hands aloft, rocking like their lives depend on it. It's fantastic to be at such an intimate gig with a band who could, and have, held their own in a much bigger venue.
Overall, it's a joy. Feeder hopefully will get the chart placing they deserve with the new material. Old fans will love it and I'm sure many people will become converts when they hear them too. We've had plenty of nice, mellow, acoustic acts from Britain break through this year with Coldplay and Badly Drawn Boy et al. 2001 is the year of ROCK and Feeder are about to kick down the door.
