Feeder @ Carling Academy, Newcastle (23.10.08)

Words: Mark Kelly

I’ve always loved Feeder. They were of those feel good bands that make you want to say: “TO HELL WITH IT MUM AND DAD!! I’M GOING TO JUMP ON MY BED!! TRY AND STOP ME!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

But only until their sound went all deflated, melancholy and a little depressing. Your drummer killing himself will do that I suppose. I was disappointed. Gutted. They had always been the band that made everything fun. I didn’t want to jump on the bed any more. That was just the way I was feeling…

Fast forward a few years and I’ve forgiven them. Not because their newest album is especially brilliant. But because when you got to see them play a live show, they always get that old spirit back. They rip through old favourites from “polythene”, “yesterday went too soon” and “Echo Park” and the whole place is jumping on the bed. Or at least that’s how it feels.

But what’s even more remarkable is that they do it without really exerting much effort or diving around like wild beasts. They almost look…old….. which is quite unsettling really. Grant Nicholas spills out some very tired lines. “How is everyone doing at the back/on the balcony/at the front? How about on the left? At the bar?” It’s almost embarrassing to hear.

But the whole place roars on cue anyway. And so do you. Because there’s not one song in the set that doesn’t make you sing your face off with pure adolescent glee. If a live gig is measured by how much fun you have, Feeder are defiantly still up there with the best.