The Prodigy @ The Academy - Thursday, December 11th

Photo: Samuel Valdes Lopez

The second half of the ’90s was a strange time: grunge was dead and buried and a new fad broke and entered our hearts: electronica. Spearheading this movement via intense videos and seriously infectious beats were The Prodigy. Their breakout album, Fat of the Land took the whole world by storm, generating a few copycats and parodies, whilst becoming one of the bonafide albums to have and brag about. Then they disappeared. Rumours flew by and after a disappointing single (2002's horrid 'Baby's Got Temper') and an uneven album (2004's Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned), all hopes for a comeback were done for.

However, today was the day those hopes rose from their graves, uniting a generation of old and new fans alike. To much anticipation, one by one, The Prodigy appeared on stage. Not one syllable had been spoken, but the public went mental, liberating all their pent up energy in jumps and fist pumping.

The band responded by giving their all, including their best known tracks ('Breathe' , 'Firestarter') and injecting new life into tepid songs such as 'Spitfire'. Did people know all the songs? No, and they couldn't care less, as The Prodigy guided them for over an hour of utter madness.

The Prodigy use theatrics and charisma wisely and repetitively, and it makes one wonder why fans think that Liam Howlett is the reason why the band is called The Prodigy? You should see him, surrounded by high-tech equipment, always commandeering his soldiers of sound.

They respond by dominating that uncontrollable, raging beast - the general public, and rendering the whole place into an electronica-fueled gestalt. The line between performer and public blurs, making the Carling Academy tremble to its very foundations.

Barring the few minor technical glitches that made the gig start a little late, it delivered completely, blowing away people's minds, leaving bruises on all parts of the body and producing a satisfactory ear ringing. Yes, for one night, The Prodigy were outnumbered, but they will never be outgunned.


Samuel Valdes Lopez


Official site: The Prodigy