Good Times
Lostprophet fans know a thing or two about patience. They’ve been waiting three years now for a new album, a year for a Lostprophet gig to emerge and yet even when it all seems within their grasp, they are still left waiting, waiting for the Welsh band to take to the stage, a fate that seems painstakingly long as the minutes inch by and still not even a tech looks likely to make an appearance. Still there are no protests from the loyal following, instead of frustrated boos there is an air of euphoric anticipation that threatens to combust, obediently doing so as finally, the band makes their entrance.
The instant Lostprophets greet the Wolverhapton crowd it is as if they have never been away, a rush of enthusiastic adrenaline bursts around the crammed venue as Ian Watkins leads his band into a exhaustingly engaging opening, from the blinding stage lights to the relentless energy of the band themselves, this is very much a band wanting to show their mutual appreciation to those who haven’t lost faith.
Talk of a new album from the Welsh lads has become something of a taboo subject, a cross between the Holy Grail and an urban legend that even tonight fans meet with a gaggle of nervous giggles that surely warrants a quick quip of “don’t mention the album”. Finally though there appears light at the end of the tunnel with ‘The Betrayed’ pencilled in for a January release. It’s a testament to the band that newer tracks such as the infectious ‘Its Not The End Of The World’ and the vigorously vicious ‘Destroy’ can hold their own next to the party inducing antics of ‘Can’t Catch Tomorrow’, the juggernaut of humour packed fun that is ‘Town Called Hypocrisy’ and ‘Last Train Home’s anthemic charged fervour as Watkins dances around the stage, wittingly bantering with the crowd as requests are branded about, one that leads the frontman to cheekily poke fun at new drummer, Luke Johnson, claiming that not all the band know how to play it.
Fun is defiantly the order of the night as the Pontyfridd natives produce an energy packed set that leaves all, including Watkins himself, drained, gaining only slight respite as ‘Rooftops’ enchants the Wolverhampton faithful, igniting a heart pumping sing along that is matched only by the infectiously jubilant colossus of ‘Last Summer’ as a wave of bodies jump in passion fed unison.
As the adrenaline punch of ‘Burn Burn’ kicks in to bring the evening to a close a stage invasion ensues, not one triggered by the crowd but rather by backstage antics as members of The Blackout, Kids In Glass Houses, Young Guns and Dead Formats lend the band a hand, inciting a rousing climax to the song as Watkins jovially thanks the Welsh bands for keeping everyone entertained whilst Lostprophets have been gone, jokingly adding a telling warning of “but the big boys are back in town now”. Yes, Lostprophets are back and eager to peel away those lost years. Good times are most definitely back again.