Review: McFly, Anthology Tour, O2 Academy, Birmingham - Part One

As we sat on the stationary train outside Smethwick, I tried to calm my 16-year-old daughter down, reassuring her that Mcfly would surely wait to start the gig at O2 Academy until we arrived - as if!

Eventually in Brum, after dashing through the city streets, we were more than relieved to join the thousands queuing outside the venue. I'd not seen anything like it in ages. The reformed boy/man band had proven to be something of a bigger draw than perhaps even they had anticipated. Eventually we were in.

I was pleased - actually relieved - to see that the capacity audience wasn't going to be purely screaming girls and one disheveled dad. Far from it. Many balding chaperones had been dragged along.

But hey, who am I kidding. I genuinely enjoyed myself. The cheeky Mcfly boys are actually pretty good musicians, as highlighted from the off with a crowd-pleasing rendition of their first big hit, Five Colours in Her Hair. Rachel, my daughter, was ecstatic - screaming like a crazed Beatles fan from back in the day.

Night one of the boys' three-night residency showcased there early material, with subsequent evenings featuring different setlists. Many of the hyped up audience will doubtlessly be at all three shows.

The evening was lapped up enthusiastically by an adoring crowd, singing the lyrics of hits Obviously, Room on the Third Floor and assorted album tracks at the top of its collective voice.

For an encoure, the lads returned to the stage with more recent material, including Love is on the Radio and Love is Easy.

Unlike the last time we saw Dougie, Harry, Tom and Danny - then as super-group McBusted - this was a stripped-down show. Simple backdrop, no frills. The music and banter stealing the night.

Great job guys. Rachel was impressed, as was her rather cynical father. And if you can win me over, you'll be around for a long time to come.