The Never Ending Set
Located in the Mean Fiddler venue the friends of Papa Roach are here to warm up for their Carling Weekend appearances and are playing in front of a very intimate audience - significantly smaller than they can expect at the weekend. The crowd has been fired up by the support act and they are ready to take the stage. The issue of why an act that reached chart-topping success is now religated to a venue with such a small capacity is a question I cannot shake from my mind. The Astoria is only a 30 second walk down the road and Brixton Accademy has housed acts smaller than the Ants? Perhaps they just wanted an intimate performance?
There are two words to describe this set. Too long.
The set lasts longer then a band with three or four albums should play - let alone with only one established album and one album being released a day before. The crowd are mixed between enjoyment and boredom throughout the set and do not feel involved at all in parts. Playing some of the more well known tracks such as "Attitude", "Movies" and "Smooth Criminal" help to get the crowd excited and the night ends with an overall feeling that the gig had been enjoyed.
Had this set been five songs shorter, it would have been ten times better overall. The entire set ends with a unique performance by one of their roadies who certainly seems to be enjoying himself. The performance tonight answers my previous question of why the Mean Fiddler - not The Astoria or Brixton Accademy.