On a surprisingly balmy April evening under the West Way, Gen X were out in full force for a brilliant Thursday night Primal Scream show at the Hammersmith Apollo.
Following a huge anniversary tour of their album Screamadelica in recent years, this gig was in support of the 2024 record Come Ahead, and while they gave that album plenty of love last night, it was the timeless staples that reminded everyone why Primal Scream still pack venues more than four decades after their formation.
Opening the night were everyone’s favourite South Londoners Fat White Family, whose own chaotic mythology sometimes overshadows their music and fantastic live ability. That reputation seems to be shifting, though, with the provocateurs noticeably less erratic these days and looking sharper and more focused when performing despite a lot of recent line-up changes.
Still, frontman Lias Saoudi remains a brilliantly uncontainable presence, with Fat White Family now a well-oiled machine. That said, their short set left fans scratching their heads with only six songs in under 30 minutes, meaning the band had to leave out cult favourites such as “Touch the Leather,” “Feet,” and “Is It Raining in Your Mouth?”. A shame, given how much the crowd seemed to be into the band.
But this was Primal Scream’s night. Bobby Gillespie, dressed in a suit as per and still exuding effortless cool, led his band through a hefty portion of Come Ahead. However, while the newer tracks were well received, it’s clear there’s a backbone of seven songs that continue to define the band’s immortality.
“Loaded” still lands like a sermon; “Movin’ On Up” was a euphoric, gospel-tinged singalong; and “Swastika Eyes” was a blistering, distorted gut-punch of a reminder that this band once rewrote the rules of British rock. “Jailbird”, meanwhile, kept the energy up, while the final trio were pure festival-headliner gold: “Country Girl” as a rollicking, rowdy burst of swagger to close the main set; “Come Together” stretching out in a euphoric, blissed-out haze; and “Rocks,” as ever, crashing in like a closing-time bar brawl disguised as a rock 'n' roll anthem.
They’ve evolved, sure, but Primal Scream’s future may forever be secured by that group of seven absolute bangers. And that’s more than most bands ever get.
