[Review] York Fibbers

review here from York Evening Press:

So what’s he trying to prove? As a career move, it seemed ridiculous: to quit a multi-award-winning chart-topping boy band to form a post-hardcore outfit. But Charlie Simpson did just that, to cries of derision from the tabloids and music press, and plenty of crying from the teenybopper camp too.

Saturday’s show at Fibbers demonstrated a strong sense that Simpson has escaped the clutches of the small gaggle of schoolgirls present (with their fingers in their ears, naturally), having instead been adopted by the neatly-pressed and carefully-accessorised emo contingent, who yelled along to every word.

Few could deny that the band sounded amazing. Sailing a similar course to Biffy Clyro and Funeral For A Friend, this was truly anthemic emotionally-charged punk delivered with devastating precision. Co-frontman Alex Westaway lurked in the shadows somewhat, but was the perfect foil for Simpson’s guttural roar. More material is needed, as the set was ludicrously short, but highlights such as new single Grand Unification (Part 1), and the closing Palahniuk’s Laughter ensured that no injustice was felt.

It seems that it was in fact Busted which was the ridiculous career move for Simpson, as the credibility he has lost will take a long time to regain. Early reviews such as this will always mention the B-word, as a major part of the the band’s history, but if justice prevails the connection will be forgotten, and Fightstar will rise to fame in their own right.
Ian Atherton