McFly at Wembley - an essential live DVD?
McFly at Wembley - an essential live DVD?
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Friday, 15, May 2009 01:01
Rob Hurst on a surprisingly and stellar Wembley show from McFly, captured on their Radio: Active live DVD.
Thanks to a last minute free ticket, I was an audience member for the show captured on this DVD, the final night of the Radio:Active tour at Wembley Arena. In all honesty, I wasn't expecting to enjoy myself much, just to tag along for a semi-ironic sing-along and drink some overpriced beer... However, it. Was. Brilliant.
I've been waiting for this DVD forever (or at least it feels like it!) so was thrilled to finally see a release date and get hold of a copy to re-live my McFly awakening. It doesn't disappoint.
My previous experience of McFly had been radio-friendly singles (seven number one singles and a further six landing in the top three) so I knew the melodies and a few choruses but the live show is a far cry from the recordings with pounding drums, chugging bass and huge guitar melodies - I was transfixed from the set's opening track, One For The Radio, the first single from their Radio:ACTIVE album.
The sound translates very well into the recordings effectively transporting me back to the footage captures much of the excitement of the show but struggles at times to capture the energy of the fans, who spent the entire show either screaming or singing along.
Other highlights of the performance include single, Obviously, a cover of Michael Jackson's Black or White and Star Girl which saw the band climb aboard a flying stage that half-way through the song carried them over the crowd's heads into the centre of the arena for the next three tracks.
The show's closing number Five Colours In Her Hair clears up any misconception that McFly don't deserve their success, with the mature, polished performance a far cry from the fresh-faced pop-tastic official video shot in 2004.
The DVD also offers a documentary filmed on the tour featuring interviews with the band and clips from all the regional shows offering fans the chance to see a little of whichever show they attended themselves, which is a nice touch.
The boys are very likeable and the documentary makes interesting viewing although a few scenes featuring drinking, hangovers and other adult behaviour are possibly slightly concerning in a DVD likely to be purchased for a lot of children.
As with all self-commissioned tour/band documentaries the lovey-dovey, best friends relationship the band share is the main focus but credit where it's due the boys look to be enjoying themselves and their recent departure from Island Records seems to have lifted a weight off their collective shoulders allowing the band more freedom to explore their creativity and in the words of Tom Fletcher: "It's our best tour yet."
The DVD is a short on any other features with the only offering being the documentary but the show itself runs to around 90 minutes so should leave most satisfied, although I feel a couple of music videos wouldn't have gone amiss.
Overall I don't think this DVD will win the band any new fans but anyone lucky enough to have seen the band live will thoroughly enjoy the whole affair and anyone who hasn't - I suggest you check them out when they return from Latin America to rock the Isle Of Wight later this summer.
9/10
Rob Hurst