Although the crowd tonight looks sufficiently dwindled in numbers in Manchester’s largest Academy venue, it is a testament to Fightstar that they are playing here at all.
It’s not that they haven’t played here before but in recent years the size of venues they have been playing had been getting gradually smaller. This is obviously changing though with latest release ‘Be Human’, increasing the bands fan base and even clocking up some daytime Radio 1 airplay. Fightstar would most definitely sell out any venue smaller than tonight’s.
The band take to the stage tonight after a more than usual 3 supports and it is obvious the crowd have been waiting all night for this. Fightstar rip onto the stage with ‘Tannhauser Gate’ a notably heavier track from the bands 2007 release ‘One Day Son This Will All Be Yours’. Whilst not an obvious opener choice the crowd relish every moment in singing along and moving around from the get go.
This momentum is maintained throughout the bands set in what could be seen as a greatest hits set list. Every track is popular and there are plenty of singles in the mix. It makes you realise that Fightstar have been doing this for a lot longer than you may care to remember and are definitely doing it well, mixing high hardcore energy with noticeable almost pop catchy choruses.
Track ‘Deathcar’ gets one of the largest responses as frontman Charlie Simpson hands his guitar to the bands stage hand to allow himself free movement around the entire stage which seems to contribute even more so towards the crowds energy.
After finishing with ‘War Machine’, one of the most epic songs Fightstar have ever written and taken from their latest release, the band return to the stage again to close with first ever single ‘Palahniuk’s Laughter’ which proves that it is possibly still the bands most well received single.
Tonight’s show is hopefully a sign of things to come for Fightstar. It was clear that every person in the room was a dedicated Fightstar fan and the large venue is definitely the place for the band to be able to showcase their more epic sounding songs.
Words & Photos - Mark Forrer
Tagged in Fightstar