The Fratellis
Live at The Refectory on Tuesday, 10th October 2006
Never without incident or injury, the NME Rock n Roll Riot Tour burst into the Refectory for its opening night with blown amps wreaking havoc during the highly anticipated set from The Fratellis. Unfortunately missing the support bands, I arrived in the Refec to frantic chanting of the now instantly recognisable 'Chelsea Dagger' opening. This was soon replaced with deafening cheers as Britain's hottest new band arrived on stage with crowd pleaser Creepin' Up The Backstairs, only to leave again shortly after as the curse of the Refectory prevailed with a blown amp!
Initial boos gave way to cheers and the inevitable "YORKSHIRE" chants that have become commonplace at gigs in Leeds now. The Fratellis returned to the stage to the rapturous crowd that they deserved which spurred them on to get over the initial frustration and deliver a brilliantly riotous set. Costello Music proves to be an outstanding success live, with the crowd singing in unison to most of the songs that they played off it. Particular highlights were 'Vince the Loveable Stoner' and 'Henrietta', passionately sang back by the ecstatic crowd. Of course with every hot new bad there is one hot song that sends the crowd into orbit and The Fratellis are no exception. Persistent chanting of its opening all night were finally rewarded with a fiery performance of 'Chelsea Dagger' accompanied by ferocious roars that threatened to blow the amps again!
Finishing their set to demands for an encore, they did not disappoint and lead singer Jon Fratelli returned to deliver a fantastic solo acoustic performance of 'Cuntry Boys and City Girls'. The rest of the band returned to close an outstanding opening night to the NME Rock n Roll Riot Tour with a rock n roll riot rendition of Goldfrapp's 'Ooh La La'.
The Fratellis prove that even a blown amp and mid-set interruption couldn't dampen the energetic and hot-blooded manner in which they perform; it's easy to see how they have propelled to stardom with no hype at all but the buzz surrounding their riotous live performances.
