Having announced the release of their fifth album self-titled The Feeling, to be released on 12th February 2016, the band took to the stage last night for an exclusive show at London’s Oslo to preview the record.
With friends, family and fans all gathered into this perfectly proportioned venue The Feeling came out with no fanfare, “We're gonna play you the new album, it was recorded with the five of us plus two wicked backing singers [pointing to the girls stage right] so it should sound something like this.”
Wearing a jacket and shirt Dan and his merry men launched into ‘Wicked Heart’ a feel good rabble-rousing anthem released as a precursor to the album, which encapsulates the guitar-led live edge of the LP.
The second track, which was announced as the new single ‘Spiralling’, was a more thought provoking traditional Feeling tune with building bass lines and sing-a-long chorus, and went down well in the intimate setting.
‘Young Things’ significantly turned up the bpm’s literally fizzing with excitement. A gritty and determined number, Supergrass meets T-Rex. The Feeling have put the emphasis of their live performance on this album and in so doing have produced a harder edged sound. As Dan told Music-News.com in an
filmed interview prior to the show “I wrote the album on guitar as opposed to the piano which does affect the way the album sounds. The energy of the album is much more guitary than pianoy. It’s a different phase of my life, I tend to write sad songs on the piano and I wanted to write something a bit more ballsy.”
‘What's The Secret’ brought the mood back down with Dan on acoustic, ‘Alien’, ‘Shadow Boxer’ and the incendiary ‘Repeat To Fade’ reminiscent of Queen all followed.
‘Non Stop America’, continued the fast pace, with great backing, high pitched and squealing, with ‘ooh oohs’ The Stones themselves would have been proud of.
The traditional end of album lullaby came in the shape of ‘Sleep Tight’ an instant head-nodder.
“There's a secret song on there which we won't play as that would defeat the object” said Dan, although telling us may have also.
“So I guess we better play some of the old ones then” and with that it was back to the start for ‘Sewn’ with ‘Never Be Lonely’, ‘Love It When You Call’ and ‘Rose’ rounding off an inspired evening of music.
Another great gig notched up for The Feeling, and one which bodes very well for the future. The songs will take on their own life once the crowd get hold of the album, favourites are chosen and live routines develop but on this first outing they shone bright, loud and proud.
Set list:
Wicked Heart
Spiralling
Feel Something
Real Deal
Young Things
What's The Secret
Alien
Shadow Boxer
Repeat To Fade
Non-Stop American
Sleep Tight
Sewn
Fill My Little World
Never Be Lonely
Love It When You Call
