Thursday 18/10/07 Fightstar @ Carling Academy, Liverpool

At tonight’s rescheduled show, the eager all-ages crowd had gathered within the moshpit ready to show their support for a band that have fought so hard to keep its fans and prove they are highly dangerous contenders in the hardcore scene - and furthermore, a true musical powerhouse. The week before tonight’s gig, Charlie (yes, the one from Busted) had suffered a throat infection, which had unceremoniously manifested itself upon soundcheck, hours before they were to go on in the smaller stage within the Carling. Fortunately Fightstar were ready to continue and now with Charlie’s voice on top form, the onslaught began, luck, it seemed had smiled upon the band, as now given the larger stage and room to move around, the band could completely let loose, and the walls of death, the circle pits and the moshing (oh the unbridled violent moshing) could take place.

The lights dimmed, the roadies cleared and a harmonica rang out across the room. Ennio Morricone surely wouldn’t have envisaged his ‘Man With A Harmonica’ to precede a sonic assault that was going to be the Fightstar gig, but surely the man himself would have been impressed, as much as everyone else in the room, at the sheer power that emanated from that stage as the opening bars rang out and Charlie’s voice screamed across the room.  Any doubts that this writer may have had towards the band’s live show were dashed in an instant as the band were captivating an audience effortlessly through their sheer talent and songwriting prowess. They gave everything to the crowd, with Charlie and his band mates interacting with the punters, thanking them for coming along and inciting massive singalongs with tracks like ‘Paint Your Target’, ‘99’ and the crowd pleaser ‘Grand Unification Pt. 1’. It was sheer mayhem down at the front of the stage, as the crowd went wild, voices rang out, guitars wailed and an over enthusiastic Charlie was surely at the point of passing out any second, as he pushed his voice further and harder than the bands two records had ever showcased.

Hit after hit came out of the bag tonight, with ‘Build An Army’ making an appearance along with their brilliantly powerful and current single ‘We Apologise For Nothing’ getting the crowd moving and singing once more. Slightly downbeat ‘Floods’ was to make an appearance tonight also, translating well in a live show with Charlie taking up keyboard duties, whereas waste a moment and ‘Palahniuks Laughter’ brought things back to heavier and rowdier territories.

Being the last stop on their tour, Liverpool saw something spectacular this evening, as Fightstar proved they were a band not to be messed with and made their last show look and sound as if it were their last ever. Giving their blood sweat and tears to their fans, nobody could pin them down tonight or scoff at such a performance given by Charlie and his cohorts.