Lopez Blogs

It absolutely bamboozles me that The Feeling, who are clearly one of Britain's most consistently excellent writing band (along with Take That and Xenomania-for-Girls-Aloud) went from such giddy debut highs to such back turned sophomore slump. Currently Join With Us stands in my top five albums of the year and I don't really see that changing before Christmas. It's packed with top notch harmonious, melodic, singalong singles and plenty of other alluring tracks too - like my current fave Won't Go Away (tragically not played at the concert tonight) and brilliant We Can Dance. Luckily, The Feeling are still a massive draw live and the venue was packed tonight with a really wide variety of people enjoying their amazing music. Ruth and I had such fun bopping along, and trying out new lime infused fruit drinks for a ridiculous amount of spondoolies per bottle. The concert started with a big screen playing lots of amusing, embarrassing and downright cute youtube clips of people singing along to Feeling songs before launching into a couple of bars of their beach boys-esque Fill My Little World intro. However, that was soon interrupted by a high octane infusion of electro-disco noises that lead nicely into the first song:

1. I Thought It Was Over - their glorious, slightly electro-tinged comeback single was a brillo opening to the show. Dan looks rather emaciated and could probably do with a bit of cake every now and then. It just goes to accentuate how much a tall drink of water Richard Jones actually is :P
2. Fill My Little World - my all time favourite Feeling song always seems to feature quite early in the show, and I'm still not sure how I feel about that. It's always a spine tingling sensation live, but I still kind of wish it had that build up that the final songs have when you anticipate hearing them. Still, this song really showcases how note perfect the melodic arrangements of The Feeling actually are - whether on record or live in concert.
3. Never Be Lonely - ditto the harmonies comment above. Dan is practically aglow with sweat at this point. Richard looks cool and collected still though :P Still brilliant live...
4. Without You - first time I've heard this song live and it is just as lovely as I had hoped. There's a really melancholy in Dan's voice which permeates the venue, and as glorious as the song sounds, you can't help but feel a twinge of sadness at the lyrics...
5. Don't Make Me Sad - brilliant piano work on this vaudevillian second album track. Half the audience looked baffled though. Perhaps they just like the singles? Loved the way the rest of the band aped the mics when joining in on the harmonies at the end of the choruses!
6. Rose - ah the live staple that has featured in all Feeling concerts since the beginning of time. Dan finally takes his restrictive jacket off and his sweat stained singlet top makes him look slightly naked. A woman in front gets very excited that they are playing this song and tries to mosh along. It doesn't really work because a) it's a ballad and b) she has absolutely no rhythm. It's quite frightening.
7. The Truth Comes Out When The Drink Goes In - oooo a new song from the "we've not been dropped" third album, out sometime next year. It's really very feeling. In fact now is a good time to analyse what makes a good feeling song - huge singalong chorus. Manic guitar solo. Quiet piano bit middle eight. Gorgeous harmonies. A pulsing drum beat. This song has all of that. Actually we got a bit excited and thought they said The Ruth Comes Out! Never mind. It also has some nice handclapping in it.
8. Take On Me (Aha cover) - and if that wasn't exciting enough, they then launch into a brillo sing a long bump into the person next to you while bopping around cover version of Aha's Take On Me. They probably didn't even practise it either - it's probably a staple from their swiss chalet ski resort shows! Studio version please - if they oblige it may replace A1 as my fave interpretation of this song. Tingly!
9. Kettle's On - while i'm quite happy for them to pull lots of album tracks from the first album, I had been hoping that Join With Us album tracks would get a time to shine. Oh well. Can't fault a song as blatently transparent as Kettle's On...
10. I Miss You - the gorgeous gorgeous hidden track from 12 Stops and Home. Always absolutely mesmerising live. Dan popped a nice little teddy bear on the piano, which (while cute) gave him an air of a cross between Liberace and Elton John (but thinner). Obviously a little bit off putting. Lovely backing vocals from the guys.
11. Helicopter - it's audience participation at it's most intimate. Dan leaps (well more carefully places himself) on top of the crowd and surfs along them right to the back. I unwittingly got the crotchal area and can affirm that actually he is not only blessed with musical talent. And is surprisingly heavy. For such a skinny rake.
12. Strange - then he nips up to the balcony bit of the arena and does a lovely acoustic version of "outsiders" anthem Strange right next to the people with the crappy seats. I have never seen so many mobile phones switch to video recording so quickly. There was this rather lovely old couple up there, who seemed most bemused by the situation.
13. Turn It Up - oh look! The second album does exist! Another crowd favourite (where were these people when it was stiffing in low sixties on the charts?) and Dan really emphasised the "you talking but you don't say anything" lyrics which i now am obsessed with.
14. Sewn - ah the song that started it all for the lads and it sounds as powerful and fantastic now as it did three years ago. I've said it before and i'll say it again - they need ivor novello awards and more chart success right now!
15. Join With Us - the anthemic title track of the second album finally makes an appearance. This song is as packed full of different parts as any xenomania-for-girls-aloud classic. They've played it at every live show ruth and I have been too since early 2006 and it still blows the roof off the venue every time i hear it. The build up and complementary instruments in both live and studio version are phenomenal and show what accomplished song creators the boys are. Amazing.
16. Love It When You Call - Perfect song to finish the set off with. Everyone knows it. Everyone loves it. Everyone sings along. It's a totally euphoric song. I think i accidentally headbutted Ruth with my crotch (she is quite little) but being the good friend she is, she doesn't interrupt my pogoing to complain :)
17. Encore: We Can Dance - ooo surprise me from behind why don't you Mr Jones? The Feeling return for an encore by popping up in the audience in Sergent Pepper esque costumes and doing their glorious hidden track from Join With Us. Nice use of their quirky looking instruments too!
18. Encore2: Fight For Your Right To Party (Beastie Boys cover) - Ciaran takes centre stage and looks like he is having a whale of a time on this "way beneath the talents of the feeling but it works anyway" beastie boys "classic". I'd have preferred Fat Bottomed Girls but it was a raucous end to a glorious night :)

For more Feeling reviews including the 4 previous live reviews (!) click here. Back tomorrow with a new pop special!