Combining indie and rave culture, Hadouken! released their debut album in 2008 and hit the scene with a big neon bang! This unique sound brought pleasure to many teen ears and, judging from the turn-out on an icy Wednesday night, this had evidently made them into loyal fans.
Eager to see if the second album lived up to the expectations made by the first, I made my way through the unrestrained crowd at Manchester Central and upon entering the venue, discovered that the band were also eager to impress, as they made an early start.
Opening the night with 'Rebirth', Hadouken! we're greeted by an ever-growing crowd and a sea of glow sticks. The band immediately proved their worth with the new album, playing songs such as 'M.A.D', 'House is Falling' (a take on Michael Jackson's 'Dirty Diana') and the awesome 'Mic Check' which saw many a late-comer running as close to the action as possible.
'That Boy That Girl' remains a favourite for the predominant fans and this song was also set to grab the attention of those who perhaps, for whatever reason, had not heard Hadouken!' 'For The Masses'. As if the crowd weren't already psyched, 'Turn The Lights Out' really turned the bass up! The evident circle pit which had formed then drew up requests from the band to "part the sea" and make a "wall of death" which surely went hand in hand with the many crowd surfers which travelled my way.
Finishing the set was 'Lost', also the end track to the album. This is the most ideal finale song, set not only to finish the gig on a high, but also to build the crowd up (even further) for Pendulum. Leaving the stage in raptures, drum and bass was fittingly played in the interval. The tension was building for the headlining act; the sea of glow sticks had now become a neon sheet and the security tightened around the stage and perimeter. We were all expecting something big.
For those who are unaware, Manchester Central is one hell of a venue. The sheer space inside allows for a big production, and that's exactly what Pendulum delivered. After playing Wembley the previous week, the band were on top form to conduct the new album 'Immersion'. This album has taken Pendulum to a whole new level of drum and bass; a level which can only be achieved by the talent and enthusiasm of the band themselves.
For a band with so many hit singles, it's hard to find the right balance between songs from the new album and those of which the majority will be more familiar. However, spectacularly performing anthems such as 'Voodoo People' (originally a Prodigy cover), 'Tarantula', 'Granite', and 'Blood Sugar', Pendulum sure know how to turn up the heat on a cold December night!
The floor was constantly shaking with the bass. It was so hard I could feel it in my chest and my heart soon begun to share the same beat. 'The Island, Pt II'', played mid-way through the set, has got to be one of my personal favourites; the injection of dubstep is enough to send shivers down the spine of even the most despondent. Accompanying this, the extreme bass and the relentless neon glow, the band jumped on board and fired a mass of green lasers through the smoke-filled venue and we all revelled in our own mid-week winter rave!
Pendulum ended their set with 'Blood Sugar' and 'Encoder' but hastily returned for an encore of 'Crush' and 'Watercolour'. What an epic song to finish on and it finished with a bang! Leaving the venue, ears still ringing and heart still following on the beat of the bass, the intoxicated crowd sung 'The Island' melody in unison.
I'll agree we did the song no justice, but this shows sheer power that a band like this have and I would watch Pendulum live every night if I could as I'm sure they would always deliver an outstanding performance.
Vanessa Worswick