The Fratellis kick starts the Easter weekend with a sold-out show at the O2 Academy Newcastle.
The Glasgow based trio released their incredible fifth studio album In Your Own Sweet Time last month and subsequently, the group are on the road across the UK in support of their latest offering.
Opening the show tonight is Austin, Texas-based duo Black Pistol Fire who most certainly impress the full house in attendance early in the evening during their first appearance on Tyneside. The band featuring Kevin McKeown on guitar/vocals and Eric Owen on drums have been friends since their childhood back in Canada.
Black Pistol Fire explode onto the stage like a vortex of energy and immediately launch into the groove-heavy, hard-hitting “Hipster Shake”. Don’t be fooled by the size of the group, Black Pistol Fire can make more noise than most band’s twice their size.
Black Pistol Fire’s energy is relentless. McKeown delivers a whole raft of fuzz fuelled blues-rock guitar riffs whilst simultaneously covering every inch of the stage. He even occasionally leaps off to the top of the bass drum, plays his guitar on his back or even at one point parades through the middle of the crowd whilst delivering a solo from the top of the nearby bar. On the other hand, Owen beats his drum kit like it owes him money and is an unstoppable force of nature. There is only one way to describe Black Pistol Fire and that is pure unadulterated rock and roll. This band are arguably one of the most exciting acts we have come across so far in 2018.
As The Fratellis hit the stage they open the show with old favourite “Henrietta” alongside one of their freshest cuts “Starcrossed Losers”, which in turn sets the tone for the night ahead. Tonight’s show features the perfect blend of new and nostalgia.
Throughout the course of the show, the band performs the lion’s share of their seminal album Costello Music, with ten tracks from the record featuring in the set. This includes the likes of “For The Girl”, “Whistle For The Choir” and the anthemic “Creepin’ Up The Backstairs”. The Geordie choir are in fine voice, as they wholeheartedly sing every word of every song.
Tracks from the band’s current album sit perfectly side by side with their timeless classics. The likes of the somewhat tropical “I’ve Been Blind” and the pop-tinged “Stand Up Tragedy” being highlights in The Fratelli’s 90-minute set.
As the band hurtle towards the end of the main set they deliver a foot-stomping rendition of “We Need Medicine”, the hard rocking “Too Much Wine” before a crowd-pleasing performance of “Baby Fratelli” results in a mass singalong from the Geordie faithful and leaves the crowd wanting more.
Of course, the band returns to the stage for a duly deserved encore; the show would not be complete without “Chelsea Dagger”. The Fratellis bring their career-spanning set to a close with a superb cover of Dion’s “Run Around Sue”.
The Fratellis continue to go from strength to strength. Tonight the band captivate their long-standing supporters with a whole raft of classic cuts whilst their most recent material sees the band simultaneously winning over a whole new generation of indie rock fans in the process.
Default Gallery Type Template
This is the default gallery type template, located in:
/home/nrrmedia/public_html/sites/nrr-wp/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/products/photocrati_nextgen/modules/nextgen_gallery_display/templates/index.php.
If you're seeing this, it's because the gallery type you selected has not provided a template of it's own.
Black Pistol Fire
Website | Facebook | Twitter
The Fratellis
Website | Facebook | Twitter
Event Date: 30-Mar-2018