THE PRODIGY
Ah such a conflicting band for many people. Are they a band that just chuck out huge beats to keep the party going and are musically stagnant or are they a band that have an amazing knack of making music that they themselves would like to listen to whilst still not adhering to the mainstreams insistence of friendly hooks and wholesome band image?
The truth is probably somewhere in between but what is almost certainly not in dispute is their live prowess.
The Prodigy work in the studio and play in the live arena and they play hard. Despite the numerous band's I have seen The Prodigy are a huge gap on that particular C.V because of their fearsome live reputation. Very few bands can straddle the genre between electronic and rock music and emerge as victors with fans on both sides whilst still having integrity.
Is it the fact that they are all the same age as myself and we are all in this to recapture the energy of youth or are we still sticking two fingers up to the doubters and enjoying ourselves and still remaining true to our roots? I fecking hope it's the latter I really do.
I adore intimate music, melancholic music, generically varied music but I generally want to see this live in a club or small theater. When I go to a festival I want to jump around like a kid but still respect the band onstage to not manipulate me with contrived sing alongs or putting a lighter in the air scenario. I want a band to kick me in the head and enjoy themselves as much as I am.
The Prodigy in the studio have made some outstanding music and have made albums that have stood the test of time in an age where technology is outdated constantly but they are also one of the finest live bands in the world and that is the ultimate barometer for me. If you can't do it live then I have been duped and I can see through it easily.
I would dearly like to play drums live for The Prodigy because I like to imagine stupid crap that I cannot do but also because even one gig would be the best party for me.
This is from their first live album and although the actual footage is not represented, the track is. Thunder (despite the YT vid saying otherwise) is a ferocious enough beast on the Invaders Must Die album with it's rat-a-tat bass line so when I first popped the new DVD in and whacked up the surround sound I was even more blown away with the fact that they chose someone's remix of the song to become the live version. When you expect one outcome and get another that is equally as good then I cannot help but sit back and smile:
and here is the track in it's original form:
I don't always want to be amazed or educated, I just want to have some fun, get drunk and dance my ass off. Wish I was there: