11 March 2010
27 October 2009
Mr Hudson came on to an eager crowd, even if they were only eager for the DJ to stop playing. He didn’t exactly blow the room apart with his 25 minute short performance and really only got the crowd moving when he sang “Supernova.” From looking at the set-list he had in front of him, he had more songs lined up to perform but wisely cut it short I feel.
As the stage was changed ready for Calvin Harris and the drum kit was revealed the crowd started going mental. “Bonkers” was being played in the background and the glow sticks had come out. There was a nightclub feel for the length of the track before people stopped jumping and stood waiting for Calvin Harris again.
The lights went down and the crowd roared. Calvin came out to a much more interested crowd. This is the man that we had come to see. He kick off with “Disco Heat” followed by “Merrymaking at my place” before he took time out to scream “Bristol, how are you?!”
The gig had a slightly strange feel to it. As Calvin and his band created odd mixes of the songs, it felt more like this gig was being played in Calvin’s bedroom. He gave almost no care for what the crowd wanted and just acted like a kid who just wanted to play with a new synth. Indeed Calvin’s lead guitarist couldn’t be heard apart from the acoustic intro to “Relax” he did nothing else but bounce around his corner of the stage in time with Calvin’s head banging in the middle. Still a great site to see!
Calvin’s voice seemed smashed throughout the gig apart from “You Used To Hold Me” where he was note perfect even when not near the microphone. Some miming I think but that seemed to the only time. He sang on with his raspy voice, thanking his backing vocalist for carrying him through the gig.
Calvin gave “Acceptable in the 80’s” a 30 second slot as he sang the chorus twice and moved on to the next song with a synthesised interlude. Rather fitting as he was performing to people whose knowledge of the 80’s was based on what they googled on their mobile phones standing in the queue to gig. Dizzee Rascal’s “Dance wiv me” went down a treat as Calvin performed his bit as another 30 second stab in the middle of his set.
He closed the show with “I am not alone” a bit predictable but it gave the crowd one last chance to dance.
As a performer I think Calvin Harris failed miserably, but what he did do very well was create a club like feel and gave everyone the chance to dance and use the glow sticks. I came out feeling like I had been to a nightclub rather than a gig.
Not bad Mister Harris, but you could do better!
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Lostprophets review 1
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