Dance-Punk Legends: Reliving The Prodigy’s Thrilling Night of Sonic Mastery

28 November 2023 rocknews

The Prodigy certainly know how to set a scene. As we entered the huge hall at ‘Ali Pali’ our eyes were drawn not to the stage, but to the back of the building where a giant ant was projected onto the huge round window that dominates the arena. Then to the sound desk where a gigantic hooded figure loomed over the growing crowd. We weren’t quite sure what its purpose was, but we would soon find out.

Soft Play

First up though we witnessed the rebirth of Slaves as Soft Play took to the stage to huge applause. Bare-torso’d and full of punk rock energy, Isaac Holman and “Laurie” Vincent hit the ground running with latest release ‘Punk’s Dead’ – Holman smashing the hell out of his drums and singing as if his life depended on it. Vincent more than makes up for the rest of a traditional band with his massively amped snarling guitar.

For two people to take command of a stage this size was an absolute delight to witness. Their energy alone was infectious and the audience welcomed them quite literally as they surfed the crowd at various stages throughout the set.

The intensity continued right up to closing number ‘The Hunter’. Holman punctuating the end by kicking his drums over and leaping into the arms of his bandmate, who carried him off stage to thunderous applause.

The energy was sustained during the break when Radio 1 DJ Jack Saunders took to the stage and kept the crowd bouncing until the lights dimmed again and thousands of phones came out to record the entrance of The Prodigy.

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The Prodigy

They started as they meant to go on. First three tracks ‘Breathe’, ‘Omen’ and ‘Voodoo People’ saw Maxim take full control of the stage, the white stripe painted across his face making him look like a warrior going into battle. Rob Holliday’s guitars and Leo Crabtree’s drums fit perfectly with the synths and samples of founder Liam Howlett, and when the bass dropped during ‘Voodoo People’ the crowd went mad as they felt it through their bodies.

Maxim also came down from the stage, through the photo pit and onto the front barrier making a special connection with the crowd.

We then found out what the huge statue was for, as it’s eyes lit up and green lasers burst from it, burning outlines of Keith Flint into the back of the stage and the side screens signalling an instrumental rendition of Firestarter and a touching, beautiful tribute to the late frontman, the lasers criss-crossing over the heads of the crowd.

By the time main set closer ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ (or was it “change my pitch up”?: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/the-prodigy-smack-my-lyrics-changed-b2454035.html) came around, we had been treated to the most astonishing set of electronic dance-punk with a healthy dose of pure rock energy and loud guitars.

After a short break they were back for an long encore of ‘Take Me to the Hospital’, ‘Invaders Must Die’, ‘Diesel Power’ ‘We Live Forever’ and culminating in ‘Out of Space’.

This is the Prodigy’s thirty third year, but tonight they gave us a performance that bands half their age could only dream of. A sublime set, littered with classics and proving that they are still at the top of their game.

The Prodigy tour Europe until mid December and headline the 2024 Isle of Wight Festival.