Fightstar - Stoke Sugarmill
Artist profile:
Fightstar
Date: 11/08/07
Rating: ****
Fightstar’s entire fan base seem to be out en masse. As far as they eye can see there are people – old, young and even younger – packed to the very walls themselves, all of them waiting with baited breath. It seems like an age has passed rather than a mere ten months since Fightstar last hit the road, and, by the looks of things, the crowd gathered here have waited long enough for the return of their heroes.
Fightstar open their set with a somewhat disturbing narration that quickly grows evermore dark and sinister by the second, before launching into ‘Grand Unification part 1’. Mid-flow, Dan [bassist] orders a pit – and without question or hesitation, the audience below comply.
Recent single ‘99’ is thrown into the mix, and live, it has a far bigger sound and a whole-load more energy than you might expect judging solely on the release. It’s heavy, yes, but it’s also a very intense and beautiful song at the same time. In contrast to the beauty of ‘99’, ‘Build An Army’ follows, with its chorus of stomach-churning riffs and verses that chill the heart. The crowd react instantly and sing back every line.
‘Paint Your Target’ – Fightstar’s debut single – is a track that Charlie may never have to sing live ever again. As with ‘Build An Army’ and ‘Grand Unification part 1’, the audience below offer back every word, to the point where Charlie is drowned out completely.
Speak Up’ needs no flashy introduction or massive build-up, and nor does it get one – Fightstar simply play it and the crowd’s reaction is wild; ‘Speak Up’ is clearly a live winner.
New track, ‘Amaze Us’ really is something a little bit special; it’s heavy one moment and eerily gentle and haunting the next. In short, a spine-tingler. In true Fightstar fashion, new single ‘We Apologise For Nothing’ is both heavy and incredibly beautiful simultaneously. This is also first time the song has made it's appearance live – and a spotless debut it is too, though judging by the evening’s gathered soldiers, no one would really give a damn if it wasn’t.
Fightstar close the night with ‘Palahniuk’s Laughter’ – the anthem above all others. Once again, Charlie’s vocals are drowned out by the crowd and the atmosphere seems about ready to explode, heightened somewhat by Al’s leap into the crowd. He manages to stay afloat for a few seconds before being retrieved by security.
Fightstar out-do themselves with each and every gig. They may have been away from these shores for what to some, might seem like an eternity, but here is the proof that they’ve not been slacking off. The people still adore them, and rightly so. This ship is far from sinking, and with Charlie and his men at the helm, it’s unlikely to for quite some time yet – the new material stands as testament to this. With only a handful of new additions to the set list, it’s obvious that the new album, ‘One Day Son This Will All Be Yours’ will be a belter of a record.
Toni-Michelle Spencer
Fightstar Official Site
Fightstar Myspace
Buy Fightstar CDs | Buy Fightstar mp3s | Buy Fightstar Tickets | Buy Fightstar Merch
Date: 11/08/07
Rating: ****
Fightstar’s entire fan base seem to be out en masse. As far as they eye can see there are people – old, young and even younger – packed to the very walls themselves, all of them waiting with baited breath. It seems like an age has passed rather than a mere ten months since Fightstar last hit the road, and, by the looks of things, the crowd gathered here have waited long enough for the return of their heroes.
Fightstar open their set with a somewhat disturbing narration that quickly grows evermore dark and sinister by the second, before launching into ‘Grand Unification part 1’. Mid-flow, Dan [bassist] orders a pit – and without question or hesitation, the audience below comply.
Recent single ‘99’ is thrown into the mix, and live, it has a far bigger sound and a whole-load more energy than you might expect judging solely on the release. It’s heavy, yes, but it’s also a very intense and beautiful song at the same time. In contrast to the beauty of ‘99’, ‘Build An Army’ follows, with its chorus of stomach-churning riffs and verses that chill the heart. The crowd react instantly and sing back every line.
‘Paint Your Target’ – Fightstar’s debut single – is a track that Charlie may never have to sing live ever again. As with ‘Build An Army’ and ‘Grand Unification part 1’, the audience below offer back every word, to the point where Charlie is drowned out completely.
Speak Up’ needs no flashy introduction or massive build-up, and nor does it get one – Fightstar simply play it and the crowd’s reaction is wild; ‘Speak Up’ is clearly a live winner.
New track, ‘Amaze Us’ really is something a little bit special; it’s heavy one moment and eerily gentle and haunting the next. In short, a spine-tingler. In true Fightstar fashion, new single ‘We Apologise For Nothing’ is both heavy and incredibly beautiful simultaneously. This is also first time the song has made it's appearance live – and a spotless debut it is too, though judging by the evening’s gathered soldiers, no one would really give a damn if it wasn’t.
Fightstar close the night with ‘Palahniuk’s Laughter’ – the anthem above all others. Once again, Charlie’s vocals are drowned out by the crowd and the atmosphere seems about ready to explode, heightened somewhat by Al’s leap into the crowd. He manages to stay afloat for a few seconds before being retrieved by security.
Fightstar out-do themselves with each and every gig. They may have been away from these shores for what to some, might seem like an eternity, but here is the proof that they’ve not been slacking off. The people still adore them, and rightly so. This ship is far from sinking, and with Charlie and his men at the helm, it’s unlikely to for quite some time yet – the new material stands as testament to this. With only a handful of new additions to the set list, it’s obvious that the new album, ‘One Day Son This Will All Be Yours’ will be a belter of a record.
Toni-Michelle Spencer
Fightstar Official Site
Fightstar Myspace
Buy Fightstar CDs | Buy Fightstar mp3s | Buy Fightstar Tickets | Buy Fightstar Merch
Comments
No comments yet
