Adam Ant – Kings of the Wild Frontier Tour, Symphony Hall, Birmingham 7th June 2016
E’s a punk int ‘e? Woz e doin` at a symphony hall like? Bit posh. Ah yes but he’s also a flamboyant pop star and a master of his trade so we’ll let him off. He’s a fame survivor and has even thrived on it in more recent years. His most recent return to the limelight could have been so different but somehow he’s pulled it off with aplomb. He’s already completed a very well received tour of the debut album `Dirk Wears White Sox` and now it is the turn of the Kings of the Wild Frontier` album, my personal choice. `Do us all a favour`.
UK Feds are the tour support. I’ve not heard of this British (Brummies too) four piece before but they seem fairly at ease on the rather expansive stage. They go for the guts with their high tempo no bullshit rock. There’s a bit of a punk strut and swagger to their delivery and maybe just a dash of glam posing too. Often on tours like this I find that the support act are either a lesser known band from the original era, or some heavily hyped darlings of the record company that don’t actually fit on the bill. It is therefore refreshing to see an actual band, gritty an unafraid to be noisy, on a bill like this. Thumbs up from me for that and the crowd seems to agree. As their set progresses they show off their slower and groovier side and prove that they’ve penned some good strong tunes with vocal hooks and harmonies that stand a chance of being remembered by a crowd here to see only one man.
Speaking of the devil, lights are down and the Ant meister arrives with a literal fanfare. The all seated crowd are not exactly doing as they are told and are standing awkwardly yet enthusiastically in their allotted spaces. Twinned drummers, two guitarists and a bassist lay the foundations for Adam Ant to do what he does best as the flamboyant pirate punk prince. A strut here, a spin there and a fair few thigh slaps too. If I did it I would look a bit of a twit but Adam Ant owns it all. He’s not lost any of the sense of fun and character that made our grannies hate him in 1981. He’s looking good and damn fine.
The huge advantage of playing `Kings….` from beginning to end is that you begin with two of the most arse kicking songs released in the eighties, `Dog Eat Dog` and `Antmusic` which boot things into gear swiftly. The non single tracks on the album fare well too in their 2016 guises, beefier and more impressive. The title track which kicks off the flip side (ask your parents) of the album was always going to be a stand out (and stand up) moment but once Mr Ant has your attention he doesn’t let go easily and the rest of the album tracks all entertain despite the absence of any inter song banter. ‘Jolly Roger’ was particularly enjoyable. It has to be said that the sound wasn’t splendid, perhaps surprising in a venue designed with acoustics in mind. The flabby kick drums sucked a little too much life from the rest of the mix but the crowd are undeterred.
Album done, Adam does finally engage with the crowd and the goodies keep on coming. `Beat My Guest’ is possibly the best way he could have started and he continues strongly plundering his earlier albums for their well known singes and lesser known B sides.
My own personal highlight came in the encore as two perhaps lesser known tracks were nastily ground out. `Red Scab` is a seedy beast and `Physical (You’re so) ‘ isn’t much cleaner. Trent Reznor tried so hard to make it is own but it will always be an Ant gem. Its a shame that a cover of Get It On was sandwiched in the middle of them when there is such an extensive back catalogue and a recent album to mine for delights
Adam Ant, elevated from punk icon to pop icon, rider of life’s sometimes cruel roller coaster, and tonight, a vital and hugely entertaining rock icon. May he long continue!
