Gig review: Prodigy in Auckland

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WARRIORS: The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

WARRIORS DANCE: The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

WHERE ARE YOU? The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

HIGH ENERGY: The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

BURNING UP: The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

WHERE'S MY PEOPLE? The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

HOT STUFF: The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

GET UP AND DANCE: The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

VOODOO PEOPLE: The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

OUT OF SPACE: The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

FIRESTARTER: The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

FIRESTARTER: The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

FIRESTARTER: The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

INVADERS: The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

ON FIRE: The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

THEIR LAW: The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

SMACK MY: The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

HEATING UP: The Prodigy play at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.

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The Prodigy had promised a crazy show when they performed in Auckland and last night they didn't disappoint, reviewer Tracey Bond was there.

The Prodigy
Where: Trusts Stadium, Auckland
When: Thursday, February 25

It didn't take too long for the crowd to get into dance mode at Trusts Stadium, opening with World's on Fire, Maxim bellowed at the crowd 'Where the f*** are you Auckland?" "Is New Zealand on fire?" "It's going to get hot in here."

He wasn't wrong.

The British electronic trio of Maxim, Liam Howlett, and Keith Flint followed their first song with a blistering version of Breathe, and the crowd loved it.

For the first few songs it was all about Maxim as he worked the crowd into a frenzy.

Flint made his presence felt by leaping around the stage like a deranged lunatic.

'Make some noise' implored Maxim as the band launched into Warriors of Dance.

By The last time I saw The Prodigy was in the Boiler Room at the Big Day Out in 2009.

Then it was all about the visual sparring between Maxim and Flint.

'Flinty' came into his own on Firestarter.

By Voodoo People most of the floor of the Trust Stadium resembled a very hot, very happy, seething sauna.

Kudos to the girls near the front, who danced the night away in bare feet.

On the track Invaders Must Die the band upped the tempo and the ante, urging the crowd to dance more.

The audience knew they were in for something special when the opening bars of Smack My Bitch Up filtered out into the stadium.

'Are you ready?' Maxim yelled, to which the crowd replied with a resounding yes.

He nearly succeeded in getting the entire stadium to crouch down as the song built, but too many people wanted to continue dancing.

The trio went off stage for the first time barely an hour after taking to the stage.

'Want more?' Maxim asked from offstage.

The Prodigy replied with a rousing rendition of Take Me to the Hospital before launching into a singalong version of Out of Space.

It was like being in a time machine which transported the crowd back into the nineties.

For their third and final encore, even the die hard nod-alongs standing by the side of the stadium decided to dance to Their Law, which provided a fitting end to a short but exhilarating set by the masters of dance.

Were you there? What did you think? Post your comments below.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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Simon   #30   12:20 pm Mar 03 2010

Thanks for the comment re the toilets Laurence #29 - we have more than 140 in the venue in 4 key areas but clearly the signage could be improved if many like you missed this and only went to the ones in the foyer. Appreciate the heads up and feedback. For Paramore this week we have ordered new signage - it will be in place for gigs going forward. Any other feedback on our venue can be placed with us on our website www.thetrustsstadium.co.nz we'd be pleased to hear how we can improve your experience at gigs. Thanks Simon Wickham CEO The Trusts Stadium

Laurence   #29   06:07 am Mar 01 2010

Concert was legendary!!! The Prodigy have to be one of the all time best bands live. Shame about the venue. 1 block of toilets for 4000+ people was not cool. Probably the only time I have ever seen the queue for the guys toilets longer than the girls line.

hayley   #28   10:47 am Feb 28 2010

The best bday present ever from my fiance, it will take a lot to top that bday!! had a wicked time and as usual just wish it went on for longer! cant wait till they come back again!

RGriz ;,,,;   #27   09:48 pm Feb 26 2010

Would have loved to be there. How was the support from...Does It Offend You Yeah? I really wanted to see them.

maggot   #26   05:36 pm Feb 26 2010

that.was.epic.

scotty   #25   04:33 pm Feb 26 2010

@ Nommi #20 Could'nt have put it any better!

kyle   #24   03:46 pm Feb 26 2010

jake - my bad, for some reason i thought invaders must die was from 2005! haha, i should learn to google before posting.

also subfocus and dizee rusko remix of take me to the hospital as well, are pretty good.

breathe was the highlight song for me. altho i liked the singalong to out of space.

would love to know what the guy in the middle on all the synths is using.

mikethebike   #23   02:21 pm Feb 26 2010

Wicked nite, music was awesome and the energy is unbelievable. Gr8 2 see so many teens into them as there best tracks are actually from the mid-90s or their recent album. Flint's vocals were a bit out (not loud enough) for Firestarters, I thought. Breathe was awesome. Out of Space superb. Loved the heavy bass added on to Voodoo People. An awesome band who are right up there

jake   #22   01:25 pm Feb 26 2010

insane gig!! i'm dumbfounded how people are saying otherwise! Kyle #19 -- .. they've had 2 releases in the past 5 years, their best of album in 05 and then the invaders must die album last year. plus there have been SO many huge remixes of their songs in recent years, for instance the pendulum remix of voodoo people and the sub focus remix of "smack my bitch up"

katie   #21   01:05 pm Feb 26 2010

legendary concert! probably in my top 5 of all time! sweaty sweaty sweaty!!! everyone was going hard out we had such a mean dance, who needs shoes anyway...ha ha