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The Prodigy @ The CIA

Posted by archifCLICarchive from National - Published on 09/04/2009 at 15:46
0 comments » - Tagged as Music, Stage

WORDS: Ryan Heeger / VID: Moz1983 

The spirit of early rave permeated our capital's spring air on Sunday.

Cardiff City taking on old rivals The Swans over at Ninian Park brought back memories of the summer of '88, when sworn terrace enemies suddenly exchanged hugs as well as blows at the birth of dance culture.

Indeed, as the cross-section of Mill Lane daytime drinkers swapped "Bluebirds" chants for singalongs of some of The Prodigy's more memorable offerings, anyone foolish enough to arrive early was left with little choice but to entertain themselves in the what must be the longest (and most mishapen, ending over by the Ibis hotel) queue ever to be seen outside the CIA.

Once inside, the party had started long before Dizzee Rascal took to the stage amidst a deafening crescendo of klaxons and whistles. I recognised Fix Up, Look Sharp and Sirens, but as a non-fan I'm afraid my attention was commandeered by the next ridiculously long queue, namely the bar selling horrendously overpriced beer. 

Waiting for The Prodigy was a mini-festival in itself. Topless heathens jumped as the likes of Chase & Status's Smash TV boomed over the PA, and glowsticks and dreg-filled plastic pint glasses flew towards the stage while people up on the balconies threw shapes.

The lights dropped to a deafening welcome as Liam Howlett took to his station. The opening bars of Invaders Must Die were cut short, Keith and Maxim came on to the schizophrenic rave of World's On Fire and 5000 punters defied gravity as the CIA went off like a nail bomb.

A good portion of the new album quite rightly got an airing, a did many of the classics. Tracks from last album Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned were notable by their absence, but as it was made during a period when The Prodigy were dogged by self-doubt, we were as happy as they were to crack on with everything else.

This was the fourth time I'd seen them (Phoenix '96 / CIA '97 / CIA '05) and this was by far the best crowd reaction I'd witnessed. From the back wall to the sides, everyone was jumping. Even the dude on the hot dog stand was 'aving it. 

Run With The Wolves' thundering live drumbeat - on the album courtesy of Dave Grohl - was one of many newer material highlights, while Diesel Power with its gnarly, otherworldly stomp and rhythm had everyone agreeing loudly that it does indeed "blow your mind drastically, fantastically". 

Set closer was Out Of Space, and if ever time travel was possible this was it. The CIA could easily have doubled for a warehouse somewhere off the M25 circa early 90s... if only the extortionate bars could have been switched for pasting tables knocking out cans of Red Stripe for a quid.

When the house lights came on there was enough body steam in the CIA to launch a Zeppelin, but having been sold out since Christmas and the first date of their UK tour, both band and fans - terrace boys 'n' all - did each other proud.           

SET LIST

World's On Fire
Their Law
Breathe
Omen
No Good (Start The Dance)
Poison
Warrior's Dance
Firestarter
Run With The Wolves
Voodoo People
Death Of The Prodigy Dancers
Commanche

ENCORE

Omen Reprise
Invaders Must Die
Diesel Power
Smack My B***h Up
Take Me To The Hospital
Out Of Space

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