Fightstar // The Waterfront -16.02.10
‘I’m from these parts,’ proudly boasts Fightstar front man Charlie Simpson to the magnitude of adoring fans awaiting his performance last Tuesday night in a dreary Norwich. This is, therefore, somewhat of a hometown gig for the band who are currently pushing the deluxe edition of their new album 'Be Human', complete with exclusive bonus DVD of unplugged and acoustic footage, no less.
Musically, a crude pigeon hole of Fightstar’s sound would be ‘post-hardcore,’ but standing amongst the throng tonight it is clear that there music represents far more than this. An impressive merging of light and dark elements creates sounds and songs both brutally heavy and breathtakingly beautiful. Often having been tied to the stigma of Simpsons former boy band days, this British foursome have worked hard to get where they are today and Fightstar’s appeal it would seem has been bubbling under the surface ever since their debut EP in 2005 and tonight it is at boiling point. Their set is electric as fans are treated to tracks of the new record like chugging anthem and new single 'City On Fire', and, Charlie’s apparent fave, ‘The Blood is Black', as well as older hits ‘Paint your Target’ and ‘Gratification Pt 1’ which are delivered effortlessly and enthusiastically. The beaming faces of the fans here tonight as well as the sound of all 700 of them singing along to every song lyric with baited breath is surely all the gratification needed to show that this band, just like the city, is on fire.
Cheri Amour
