The Prodigy at Brixton Academy (13th December, 2008)
Seeing The Prodigy live is, for me, like travelling ten years back in time: their music takes me back to my time at school. I can’t help but think of how much I was in awe of the hard, driving beats and intense synths proffered by Liam Howlett. And that’s before I even get to the imposing aural and visual impact of Keith Flint and Maxim Reality.
That The Prodigy were able to rekindle this awe, then, whilst offering subtly rejuvinated versions of classic tracks alongside more recent work, is superb.
Does It Offend You, Yeah?—whose bassist and lead singer, James Rushent, co-produced The Prodigy’s first single from their forthcoming ‘Invaders Must Die’ album—were, as ever, superb. Their live set offers energy and served as a delicious indietronic warm-up for The Prodigy’s audience. To round off the bill, DJs Brendan Long, the stunning Zane Lowe, and Herve provided musical cover between sets.
Nothing, though, can quite prepare one for the energy and intensity of The Prodigy: Maxim Reality’s brooding, explosive delivery and Keith Flint’s seemingly boundless energy (causing him to almost incessantly run, spin, and jump around the stage) are incredible. Of course, all this energy and intensity would be nothing, were it not for the heavy, intense compositions from the almost invisible Liam Howlett.
