If anything summed up the Feeling it was one of the segues that Dan Gillespie voiced before one of their harmonic, feel good songs. He told the packed house about how while recording their album they drank a lot - and the song that followed was inspired by alcohol. For most rock bands you would expect a gravely verse about drinking your way to the bottom of a bottle of Jack Daniels, or maybe the beer swilling antics of a bunch of young guys from London. But no, the next song was called Rose (as in the win).
The Feeling are what they say on the can. They deliver harmonious, uplifting songs with Dan very much at the front striking a variety of spins and poses that must have been honed over hours in front of a mirror with a tennis racket. But they do it very well indeed and the set is a true show that gets an audience reaction that echoes the last audience participation scenes in Mama Mia. Arm swinging and mobile phones and opportunities to singalong are there in abundance.
An amped up version of the Buggle's Video Killed the Raio Star, a stayer from the cover sets played in their ski resort proving grounds of Mirabelle, sat comfortably among the songs that are fast becoming anthems of a what has to be the safest date gig in town. But these musicians are very tight and their craft skills are strong. It’s easy to liken them to soft rock bands of the 80s but who cares. They write good songs with accessible lyrics and strong hooks with songs like never be lonely destined for classic stations for years to come when they fall off the playlists of contemporary stations. What you can't forget is that to go to experience such optimistic performance is new for a good proportion of the audience and joyously familiar to the rest. Fill My Little World gave an opportunity for even the drummer to feature on vocals and along with his raised platform made sure that he wasn't the guy that nobody notices at the back. In fact, everybody had their chance to shine and they did.
he only word of caution is that Gillespie sometimes lays on the Gruyere so heavily on occasions that he is in danger of being laughed at instead of with. But I am sure that like his mum, who he pointed out was in the audience, would agree, he's loveable and engaging. Lets just hope that some naff politician (yes David Cameron, we're looking at you) doesn't declare them a firm favourite and they loose all credibility in the rock world because they deserve respect as musicians.
For more info: www.thefeeling.com
Words: Stephen Izatt
