McBusted @ Birmingham LG Arena – 2nd May 2014
McBusted is a supergroup formed of pop groups McFly and the long-gone Busted. Tonight marks their first performance in Birmingham on the tour which includes three dates in the city.
Despite a quiet start to the night, things quickly liven up when McBusted are due to take to the stage. When they finally jump out from below the stage, the crowd is whipped into a frenzy. Screaming teenage girls everywhere. Starting out with four Busted songs, it becomes clear what the evening is about: fun. It doesn’t matter whether you grew up on Busted and are there for nostalgia’s sake (which I’d assume accounts for roughly 75% percent of the crowd), or you’re a McFly fan, it would be hard to not crack a smile when they play songs like “Air Hostess”.
Things carry on with another few Busted songs with verses here and there sung by the McFly members of the supergroup, while the Busted members occasionally take on a McFly verse — perhaps proving that this is more than simply just a way to replace missing Busted member Charlie Simpson.
With everyone in high spirits the songs and banter continues. Some of the overly-obnoxious trying too hard to be “edgy” stuff from McFly member Dougie seems utterly unnecessary and cringe-worthy, but apart from that, it’s clear that all 6 of the band members are in their element — laughing and joking, and there’s often reference to Fearne Cotton filming a new TV show from the pit.
The stage set up allows the band to run around the stage as much as they want and come down to the front section of the stage which has mic stands set up ready and waiting, and their energy seems to be endless as they race through Busted hit after hit with McFly songs peppered between. It does feel more of a Busted reunion show than a McFly show.
The supergroup finally leaves the stage as a rather humorous video plays across the screens with the members dressed up as characters, talking about an alien invasion, while a UFO shaped stage begins to drop in the middle of the audience. All heads turn as the band run around the circular stage and knock out a few more songs.
They finish up this part of the set and are escorted back to the main stage and jump up from under the stage again while the drums rise way in the air and the band start the Busted classic “Thunderbirds Are Go”. We’re in the final part of the set now, and the band have pulled out all the stops, from pyrotechnics, including a rather fiery McBusted backdrop sign, to confetti cannons and even a couple of t-shirt cannons. The band ends on the combination of Busted’s “Crashed the Wedding”, McFly’s “All About You” and then finally “Year 3000”, which all get gigantic receptions with everyone standing, dancing and singing at their top of their lungs interspersed between screams and whistles from all around the arena.
On the whole, it’s a funny nostalgic feeling. It can’t help but feel like a gigantic cash-grab, but at the same time it’s thoroughly enjoyable, even if you don’t particularly like either band. There’s a happiness in the air and it would be quite impossible not to recognise over half of the songs played. So, if people are going to go and have a good time, then why not?
Review – Max Qayyum
Photos – John Mason