Fightstar (MTV presents)
4 March 2010
The Dingwalls, London

Dave could not make it for tonight’s event, but our good friend Kristell Gathoye stepped in.

Admittedly, tonight was going to be my first-ever acoustic show so not only was I excited about this but also very curious to see how such a heavy band live could translate their riffs without losing their punch. The Dingwalls, in Camden, feels perfectly suited to an intimate gig and their different levels ensure that everyone gets an enjoyable experience, even those lurking around the bar like we do.

Surprisingly, Fightstar opens with one of their heaviest tracks, Palahniuk’s laughter. Knowing that song pretty well, it does sound very odd at first but once the melodic part of the song kicks in, it suddenly all makes sense. Whilst your ears get used to this unusual version, you can’t help but notice that the band has made a visible effort to adapt the tune to the acoustic environment and that Charlie’s voice is at times an octave lower. This makes for beautifully soulful harmonies between him and second vocalist Al.

Recent single, The English Way is up next and although this track feels a little bit too fast to be played this way, the chorus works perfectly and Charlie’s voice is clearly well suited for this more mellow type of singing.

If you have seen those guys live before you will know that the interaction with the crowd plays a very important part of their shows and it looks sometimes as if they literally feed of this energy. Now, dressed casually and sitting so close to their fans only emphasises this.

Paint Your Target, my personal favourite, becomes almost hard to recognise at times but just as magical whilst later on, Waste A Moment, brings us groovy Spanish sounds and rhythms.

A nice addition to their traditional set comes with 70’s hit Vincent originally recorded by Don McLean followed by Deftones’ Be Quiet And Drive. Both are executed without faults and kept very close to the real version.

The performance is nearing its end with an ethereal, Sigur Rós-esque version of Our Last Common Ancestor that will lead to their last song for tonight, Cross Out The Stars. Visibly gaining confidence from the intimate atmosphere, guitarist Al, who rarely speaks to the crowd, explains that this tune was written when Charlie and himself got stoned years ago. This gorgeous duet suitably closes the evening.

Tonight was a perfect Goodbye as Fightstar prepare themselves for a well-deserved break until next year.

Fightstar Setlist:
Palahniuk’s laughter, English Way, Paint your Target, 99, Battlefield, Mercury Summer, Waste A Moment, Sleep Well Tonight, Vincent, Quiet and Drive, Our Last Common Ancestor, Cross out the Stars