The last time I saw The Fratellis live was way back in 2008 at that yearÂ’s edition of T In The Park. The band were at the height of their powers having just released their second Top 5 album in a row. They were in the unenviable position of playing before headliners Rage Against The Machine and might have been worried about how the crowd would react to a band so different to their headliners. There was no need to worry as their home country crowd lapped up a fantastic performance from a band heading straight for the top.
How things can change in the music industry. One year later the band entered the ever popular 'indefinite hiatus' and for all intensive purposes ceased to exist. Then after three years of various failed projects the band announced their triumphant return; the problem? Nobody seemed to care. A new album 'We Need Medicine' limped in at a disappointing number 26 in the charts, before disappearing completely.
Was there really a demand for The Fratellis to return? Perhaps not, after all guitar music and indie rock are well and truly out of favour, with this countries fickle hipsters lapping up whatever Radio One throws at them. Fans of real music however are still willing to let their feet do the talking, so perhaps their live return would be more profitable. A UK Tour was duly announced and that's what brings me to Norwich's UEA LCR.
Along for the ride on this tour are the sole support act Cut Ribbons. There is already a decent crowd inside the venue when this five-piece from Wales take to the stage. What follows is a decent performance from a young band still finding their feet. The dual vocals from female vocalist Anna Griffiths and male vocalist Aled Rees are a defining feature of the band's sound and will help set them apart from the pack going forward. This is a band with definite potential, but there is of course still work to be done. As for tonight though, it's surely job done with some new fans on board.
As we await The Fratellis it's noticeable that they can still draw a live crowd. The venue isn't sold out but it can't be too far off. The stage is very minimal tonight and as the band push into their performance it's clear that they have stripped their act right back compared to their past run. Singer Jon Fratelli promises the audience an old song for every new song and that's how the set list shapes up.
Popular debut 'Costello Music' and this year's return 'We Need Medicine' dominate the set with just a handful from 2008's 'Here We Stand'. Despite its poor charting, fans tonight seem well versed in the material from 'We Need Medicine' and the crowd give equally appreciate responses to both the old and the new material. Tonight's crowd are particularly rowdy and help make The Fratellis' slow burning set feel more immediate. I have to say the crowd do the band proud tonight and I've seen this venue less frenzied during even the heaviest of metal bands. Even the mellow 'Whistle For The Choir' is welcomed with a mosh pit or two!
As you would expect from the reaction the new material receives, the likes of hit singles 'Henrietta' and 'Chelsea Dagger' incite mass hysteria amongst the passionate crowd. Even if The Fratellis are slower and more methodical in their performance the crowd keeps the old fire alive and help make for a very enjoyable night out.
It will be interesting to see what the future holds for The Fratellis. No band should ever rest on their laurels and milk their back catalogue to death, but why make new music if there isn't a market for it. In another time The Fratellis return to the scene might have been much heralded instead it's only the diehard fans that bothered to buy 'We Need Medicine' and indie fans on a nostalgia trip that have ventured out to a show. No matter what the future holds The Fratellis will always have a place in their fans hearts and they can sure still entertain a crowd.
FUTURE GIGS
sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.