Review: The Feeling, Newcastle Carling Academy

Mar 12 2008 by Simon Rushworth, The Journal

POOR Dan Gillespie Sells. One minute his pretty boy pop rock is the best thing since Supertramp and the next his band is being lambasted in the music press for lacking originality, longevity and broad appeal.

But if second album Join With Us appears to be a carbon copy for The Feeling’s hit-laden debut then don’t blame the boy Dan.

After two years listening to all and sundry telling him he had discovered the answer to radio-friendly cheese, he was hardly likely to perform a shocking volte face and rip the form book to shreds. Why would he?

The Feeling found the perfect formula for soft rock with delicious debut Twelve Stops and Home and track after track rolled off respected playlists throughout 2006.

Riding on the crest of a populist wave, the retro funsters became a must-see live act and beloved of girls and boys everywhere.

Fast forward to 2008 and the tide has apparently turned. Last night’s Newcastle show was as much about proving the doubters wrong as it was about pleasing the die-hards and Dan’s boys did both - just about.

The Feeling possess a certain presence on stage which suggests their future success is not as uncertain as the critics would have us believe. In the live arena they are more of a band and less of a brand – fusing genuine charisma with the crass choruses.

Sells is superb as the driving force – take his evocative rendition of Strange – and if The Feeling really are destined to follow The Darkness into a state of terminal decline brought on by ‘second album syndrome’ then a solo career surely beckons.

But for now it is all about five guys producing the goods live. Forget the bad press, forget the anti-hype and forget the fact that this is guitar-schmooze by numbers.

Just enjoy The Feeling for what they are; straightforward showmen with an ear for a good tune. Sugary sweet and rarely serious, this is the optimistic face of good old-fashioned guitar pop. And I love it.