Thinking as someone who knew very little about Primal Scream, other than a vague notion that they played the type of music I like and I should really know more about them, I was ignorantly expecting (and looking forward to) an evening of early 90s glow sticks and hazy drug induced mellowness. Well how wrong can one be? Tonight, the first of the Primals’ four date UK tour and ahead of the release of their new album Riot City Blues out on 5 June, I’m immediately shaken out of my naivety on this.

From the moment they hit the stage it’s an electric display in front an adoring, hard core audience who laps it all up. Frontman Bobby Gillespie sets the tone as he leaps around the stage as if back from the dead and his punchy, crisp vocals easily carry the raucous venue. The Primals are clearly up for this tour as he’s fiercely backed up by the rest of his band. I guess the motivation of a new album round the corner (latest due out in June) is just the spark required.

They close the performance with their major anthem hits – ‘Rocks’ and ‘Movin’ On Up’; both of which raise the roof of an Astoria packed to the rafters. It also had this gig-goer tapping his foot more enthusiastically than normal.

Finally for this Stone Roses fanatic, seeing Mani perform in the flesh is a great bonus, but I can’t help but be left a bit cold by his performance. Despite sporting his trademark cheeky grin, the old boy seems to be ‘going through the motions’, which is in stark contrast to the rest of his band. Ah well, maybe he’d done many bigger gigs with the Roses, maybe he’s jaded from years of touring or maybe he was just hammered. 

(4/5)

Check for Live Dates