Live – Feeder at Portsmouth Pyramids – Breaking Glass Magazine

Feeder, Portsmouth Pyramids, 1st November 2019

Tonight’s sold out show at Portsmouth Pyramids marks the start of Feeder’s UK tour in support of their new album Tallulah. There’s clearly still a lot of love on the south coast for the guys and I have to admit that, back in the day, I used to love Feeder. Seeing them play at HMV on Commercial Road to promote the single Crash back in 1997 was insanely good fun, and my mates and I never missed a show when they were in town. Though shortly after the release of their second album Yesterday Went Too Soon, both me and Feeder went our separate ways, and it would appear we’ve both changed since falling in love 23 years ago. But, 10 albums in, Feeder are still going strong and you know what? Fair play to them.

Back to the show though, and frontman Grant Nicholas announces that “Tonight is a night for new music!” A quick glance at tonight’s setlist torpedoes any hope I had of hearing an old classic such as Stereo World, Cement or W.I.T. but I’m probably the only one here who cares. Kicking things off with new album opener Youth, the set ticks along nicely enough at a steady pace. It’s only when they break into fan favourite Come Back Around that the crowd actually begins to move about a bit. Halfway through, they play Kyoto which is a lot heavier than anything else they’ve played this evening, and it’s a welcome relief from the slower material that’s come so far. Still, the end of the set draws on older material that seems to get everyone dancing (particularly Buck Rogers – the song about a CD player, player, player, etc.)

Tonight’s encore is rounded off with Just a Day, by which point teenage me feels a little sad that he didn’t get to relive those glory days by crowdsurfing to Tangerine. But, I can’t help leaving with nothing but respect for Feeder; after all these years, they’re still a great live band, and they do what they do well.