LIVE FROM THE PIT: MCFLY AND LOSTALONE, NOTTINGHAM

I love Rock City for a gig. Perfect balance between an intimate atmosphere but still a big

enough capacity for those ‘you sing it’ moments to give sizzling goosebumps. The iconic

Nottingham venue is especially well suited to high energy artists that encourage you to

leave your inhibitions in the cloakroom, turn the floor into a sweat-forest, and ask ‘would

you like to say, “fuck it” with me?’ A perfect choice for the relentless McFly and their superb

support act LostAlone.

Despite having a significant presence on the rock scene since 2005, I was a novice in my

experience with LostAlone. That was until the Derby based ensemble roared onto the stage

in Nottingham, providing evidence that youth is eternal if you live with a rock and roll state

of mind (at least when on stage). Lead singer Steven Battelle, who is credited as a co-writer

on several tracks on McFly’s Power to Play album, and who has recently been working

alongside Danny Jones and Dougie Poynter as part of their writing and production team

SideQuest, helmed the group expertly, bringing showmanship and mouth-watering guitar

solos worthy of his ‘demented genius’ title. The audience was particularly entranced with

G.U.I.L.T.Y and their closing number The Last Drop Of Forever which delivered opportunities

for punky chanting that achieved the two optimum goals of any support act; created new

fans and got the room buzzing for the main event. LostAlone showed absolutely no cobwebs

after returning to the scene after a hiatus from 2014-2022, and I will be seeking out a

headline appearance.

After 20 years of watching McFly in the UK’s biggest arenas, seeing them switch to smaller

venues for the Power to Play Tour was an intriguing surprise. The Rock City crowd was

excited by this change, and for the final night of the tour, provided the same noise and

elation as a 10,000 strong arena as soon as the first brassy notes of YMCA (their go-to walk-

on song) enveloped the room. Part of the decision to tour smaller venues, I believe, is

because of Power to Play’s return to their honest rock ‘n’ roll roots, and the sweaty and

close environment that necessitates. This theory was immediately confirmed by the show’s

opening mirroring that of the album, with the explosive Where Did All the Guitars Go? and

Land of the Bees setting the tone. This was followed up with the anthemic One for the Radio

from the album Radioactive which many fans say is the most stylistically similar to the

band’s latest outing.

McFly continued their successful habit of rotating fan favourites from varying albums from

tour to tour, including the likes of Corrupted, Friday Night (a personal favourite), Too Close

for Comfort, and Everybody Knows, all of which have missed out in previous tours but were

received with adoration, especially by a lucky fan who kept up the tour tradition of playing

the cowbell (because there can never be too much) during Everybody Knows.

One detail Galaxy Defenders (if we’re doing fandom names) are loving about Power to Play

is the increased concentration of Dougie Poynter. The bassist, who’s personalised merch

always sells out the fastest, up until this date has always taken a more fleeting role when it

comes to leading the vocals. He excels on his bass, the song Lies being an everlasting fan-

favourite is example enough of this, as Dougie carries the bridge with a solo that invokes the

bad-smell recognition face amongst musicians (you know the one), but vocally reserved his

talents for occasional harmonies as well as the occasional feature. However, the bands

return to its classic rock and pop punk influences, Dougie has grasped his opportunity with

vigour. His crowning moment comes in the deliciously Blink 182 reminiscent I’m Fine, which

brought out the buried emo ‘kid with long hair’ of everyone in attendance. Here feels an

appropriate place to praise the influence of Mark Hoppus of the previously mentioned Blink

182 on McFly’s recent releases, as a frequent collaborator and co-writer. Hoppus penned

the lyrics for Route 55 whilst undergoing chemotherapy, for fans in Rock City aware of this

fact, seeing the upbeat tune performed was even more special.

Throughout the night Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher’s vocal performances were as

exceptional as fans have come to expect, 20 years of practice together is bound to make for

a well-oiled machine, even when a guitar dies right before a big solo and you have to fill in

with your mouth – great Job Danny, we hardly noticed – but their performances were most

awe-inspiring during Not Alone and All About You which they performed as a duo. It was a

mesmerising display of talent and a testament to a long-standing collaboration. The

harmonies in Honey I’m Home also deserve a mention, I’d been looking forward to seeing

them live for months and they lived up to my unreasonable expectations.

One the drums it was clear all night that Harry Judd was enjoying the return to rock ‘n’ roll

roots as much as anyone. Linear fills and tom-work maintained the punchy and bouncy

energy all night, and all McFly fans know how much the four of them love a bounce. Also,

credit to Sabian Cymbals, because Judd’s ride cymbal was perhaps the best I’ve heard –

delicate on the rim but the bell had fierce attack – top craftsmanship. Perhaps the thing

Judd did throughout the night that fans were most grateful for however, was inject his

charm just enough to convince his band mates to dig out a sneaky extra song in the shape of

That Girl all the way from their debut album – I love last night of tour presents.

Overall, McFly delivered their usual level of brilliance infused with irresistible charisma,

humour, and boundless energy, seemingly renewed by the rediscovery of their musical

origins. They were unafraid to claim their status as a band that adore their poppy sing-a-

longs like Obviously and Star Girl whilst simultaneously cherishing their harder hitting rock

bangers. It was unadulterated enthusiasm from the moment LostAlone stepped on stage to

the very last pic thrown into the crowd by Danny who seemed desperate for the tour to not

be over. Throughout their career McFly at times have had to suffer the ugly view of noses

stuck up high in the air. Excluded from circles as they were deemed not heavy enough to be

rock music. If you are one of those people, it’s completely your loss. Get over yourself, get

down to the ‘mushpit’ and have the best fucking time!

Words: Jack Knapton

Photos: Jack Knapton