Before I even begin to write about the amazing spectacle that I witnessed in the early morning of April 3, 2011, I think it’s fair I give you guys a brief background of the band that I so willing woke up at 4am for. In all fairness if you know me, I wake up at the apparently ridiculous hour of 5am on a usual day. But for my family members, they were surprised I was up and poised in front of my computer even before breakfast was on the table. Saturday mornings are slow in my household, none of us are really up until 10am and we have been accustomed to “brunch” rather than having a nice “three-square-meal” regime on Saturdays. But on this day I was adamant to treat it like any other day of the week – granted it was because I had an essay to do, so I suppose the live show I witnessed was an incentive to remind me that I had important uni-work to do. So before I talk about the show, I just want to give you guys a few points on the band I’m about to talk about, because I know not all of you know who they are.
Let's head to the show...
McTrivia: 10 Things I Know About MCFLY...
- “McFly” are named after “Marty McFly” from Back to the Future.
- They’re a British band located in London, England.
- There are four members: Tom Fletcher – Vocals and guitar; Danny Jones – Vocals and guitar; Harry Judd – Drums and Dougie Poynter – Bass and Vocals.
- They’ve been a band for 7 years (going on 8) and their first single, 5 Colours In Her Hair, hit number one on the UK charts in April, 2004.
- They’ve produced five albums thus far: Room on the Third Floor, Wonderland, Motion in the Ocean, Radio: ACTIVE, Above the Noise - not to mention a Greatest Hits Album as well!
- They were in the film, “Just My Luck” starring as themselves and playing their own music.
- They have a world-wide fan base, but their loyal fans are mostly in the UK.
- They’re as much cause-orientated as they are fan-orientated, doing things for Comic Relief and BIRT.
- They recently collaborated with Taio Cruz in their 2010 album, Above The Noise – Taio features on their second single, Shine A Light.
- They recently launched a “supersite”, officially running for 7 months this April 10, which re-invents social networking and band-sites, taking fan-orientation to a whole new level.
We all know what ‘LIVE’ Entertainment means in a general sense right? – A spectacle viewed by people that is happening in actual time. Before I start talking about the show, I just want to remind you guys about the U2 concert that took place on YouTube on October 25, 2009. Remember when they received news feeds all over the world about the 360 Degrees tour that was being broadcasted ‘live’ to any person who subscribed to their YouTube channel? Another online ‘live’ event was the 2009 Oscars, where the entire event was also on YouTube for everyone to see. Why am I reminding of all this? Well I want to just say that what Pioneers and other Citizens of Super City experienced on April 2nd/3rd, 2011 was not a ‘new’ phenomenon. So it’s no big deal what McFly have decided to do, but it it interesting to note that it was only available to paying citizens of their online site, Super City. So technically, we paid for our tickets before we even knew about the show – now that’s handy!
Before the show...
Obviously I’m going to have different “Before the Show” experience to those who were actually at Wembley Arena. For me it was waking up to the sound of an alarm and simply opening my laptop and having to sign on to Super City. So the pre-show ritual I had was: get up; log on to Twitter and Super City; make myself the first coffee of the day. Next was recap on what I had missed while I was asleep – Pioneer Interviews, Press Interviews and McFly Group Webcam. So, in terms of “liveness”, I had a pretty ordinary day in front of the computer, but in saying that – the actual waiting for the show to start at my computer replicates the same liminality that I have been ordered to ‘wait’ for the show to start. (Yes, I did listen in Reading Theatre and Performance back in semester two.)
The Show...
There are TWENTY songs on McFly’s set list – please tweet me if you know another band/artist that has played over 20 songs on their tour! This is a lengthy set list so I’ll try to condense it for you guys by grouping the songs as the show progressed – complete with transitions and conversations. Alright, let’s get into it…
Party Girl – It’s great to see that the boys kicked off the show with their first single of their current album. Starting the show with an incredibly upbeat song got me going at 5am! I had to make sure no one else in the household would be disturbed as I tried to whisper rather than belt the song from the top of my lungs! This was difficult considering I had my headphones on and I seriously wanted to put my volume up to full so that I could create some kind of similarity to what I was seeing on my screen! (But it’s not the same if you can control the volume is it?)
Nowhere Left To Run – The great thing that I really loved above this show are the transitions from song to song. Instead of finishing Party Girl they went straight into Nowhere Left To Run. When thinking of the set list you have to wonder why this song would come second, right? For those of you who haven’t been the McLoop, McFly, as well as releasing a new album in 2010, also released a mini-film titled Nowhere Left To Run. See how this set list is working in terms of different levels of entertainment? Not only are McFly playing and awesome song – but they’re also using their world wide streaming to (unintentionally) remind fans about their film released in 2010.
iF U C Kate – One of my favourite songs on the ATN album, so much so - I wish I was part of the screaming fans! Instead I was dancing around my room and singing along to Danny Jones. This song had and EPIC guitar solo and it ended with vocals just resounding with, “Tell her that I’m looking for her!” allowing the silence to let the lights and the keys herald the introduction to…
That’s The Truth – LOVE!!!! This song! Another song I was singing at the top of my lungs to (by that time, my house was awake and all doing their own things – dad came in and told me to be quiet, not that I listened!). I thought the stage design was a little plain until lights highlighted that frame work of the interior of Wembley Arena. Zigzag patterns set the mood for this beautiful ballad as the intro played and the crowd raised their voices in excitement to hear the third single from the album blast through the speakers. With yet another mind blowing combo of drums and guitar in the middle of the song – it was clear that the show had only begun.
***
Tom and Dougie break up the night by addressing the live audience before them by reminding them that they are also part of the show as it is being streamed all around the world. In this case, those of us viewing the show via our iPads, iTouches, iPhones and computers are not only watching McFly, we’re also watching our fellow McFans.
Transylvania – Being on stage gives you a certain kind of power – Dougie wanted to show all the fans his "power" by asking the lighting man to dim the lights as his formal notification into the next half of the show. Heralding his masterpiece, as the lights are still dimmed, Dougie plays Transylvania, and soon enough the rest of the boys join in – with a little drum solo for Mr. Judd.
Lies – The show isn’t complete without a bass solo, which is where Dougie’s reign continues as the transition to Tranny turns into another favourite, Lies. This head-banger of a song brought on an overpowering bass solo that led the song into a dynamic finish of transitioning into…
Corrupted – going straight into Corrupted only makes sense energy and (almost) lyrically wise. But what I found really great about this song is how it ends – dead silence from those on stage and loud cries from those in the audience realm.
Falling In Love – I don’t know who decided to start using the “Love Sign” (aka. the make a heart with your two hands and lift them up) during their concerts – but I swear Taylor Swift copied it of Tom! I remember doing the Love Sign back in 2009 at The Metro Theatre. But you have to admit, this song needs it right? Especially if it transitions into…
Obviously – and Danny asks you to smile, “I hope we got a smile all around the world just then.” Yes Danny, I believe you did. Although, I seriously thought the next song was going to be Smile, instead of Obviously, nevertheless I was glad to hear one of their classics blasting through my speakers. Considering…
I Need A Woman – was next on the list. I was so happy when the intro started playing for this song! Extended as the introduction was in order to fulfil a successful then-and-now transition, I think so many McFans would want any of the boys to sing this song to them. Tom and Danny just have amazing control over their voices that make us girls melt when they sing! The McFlyDARES girls were on my screen with a sign that read, “Tom moan for us please.” (or something along those lines) and he did! If you have not heard Mr. Fletcher moan, listen to this song!
***
Another mini-break, the boys introduce their piano/keys man and their backup singers. Introductions done they go straight into their next segment with…
End Of The World – My computer began buffer picture-wise, but the sound was still top notch. The one remarkable thing I want to mention is Danny’s “creeping-Springsteen” – where he bends with his guitars and creeps across the stage moving his shoulders – signature dance move right there!
***
Since we didn’t see the opening bands, McFly had other plans when it came to guests. This next section has a very special person join them on stage, Dougie puts it like this, “We must thank the Lord for giving us Bob Fletcher, because he gave us Tom Fletcher!” Let’s say Dougie had a religious experience because he was wearing his, “Holey Jeans.”
Smile – and who wouldn’t when Bob Fletcher joined his son Tom on the stage to sing one of McFly’s most loved songs. And Smile they all did – along with McFans in the arena and the world. It was one of the most memorable moments that you are proud to be part of – I know I was!
Star Girl – with all the hype from what the fans just witnessed, the extendable stage was an added bonus to the fans as Start Girl herald more than a sing along – it meant free Team Flones and Team Pudd t-shirts! I was more amazed at the fact Tom played the drums while Harry shot T-shirts from a T-shirt gun! I wish I was there to catch one – at least now the store is open.
5 Colour In Her Hair – It’s only right that 7 years after it hit number one, 5 Colours is still on their set list and brings fans to sing to the top of their lungs! I know I was singing loud and proud! How can’t you when it’s such a pinnacle song for every one!
***
If you know McFly then you’ll know that they’re great at doing covers. Rihanna’s Umbrella, Taio Cruz’s Dynamite and now…
Pass Out – Tinie Tempah’s single penetrated through the McFly set list. It amazes me that Danny says he forgets his lyrics but he kicks ass when he raps! The boys need to address this issue! I will say, Danny should never be without his guitar - his hands seemed like they didn’t know what to do! Nevertheless, Danny’s has a great stage presence and none of us can deny that!
***
The End – You think the show is over when this song plays, and you think, “What a great ending – lyrically.” But it doesn’t help when the boys do this:
Say goodbye and then ask for a shout out to Christmas. And Dougie talks about his solo endeavour and Harry tries to aid him – where they have a Pudd moment until Dougie says, “No Harry, there’s no drums, it’s just bass.” And then you hear…
One For The Radio – and then you’re back into the momentum with, “WE DON’T, WE DON’T CARE!”
But thing come down as the show progresses towards its end. Tom brings it down with more goodbyes and talks about the documentary on UK television’s Channel 5. And bring us to tears with…
The Heart Never Lies – where he sings, “I know it’s not easy, but McFly’s here FOREVER!”
And the night is just held together by this one line for a while until they officially close the night with thanks to their crew (and a quick birthday greeting to their lighting man). Then they tell their fans to take a bow and they clapped us! And thanked us all with, “We have the greatest fans on planet earth!”
***
But we all know a show would be nothing without an ENCORE…
Shine A Light – ended the night with a blast. Being their second single from the ATN album, why not end with the song that carries their album’s title?
Overall thoughts...
McFly have always been great live and I can attest to that! They’re also great stage performers and without a doubt, have always been talented musicians. What I really like about them is that they’re fan-focused and have always catered to their followers. Seeing this show live proves that. Overall, this show was amazing and I can’t wait until they bring it here to Australia!
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