The New York alternative hip-hop trio Fun Lovin’ Criminals brought style to Lincoln’s Engine Shed, on Tuesday, September 14th. The show was part of a UK tour in support of their latest album “Classic Fantastic”.
The Engine Shed had been split in two, creating a much more intimate affair for the band and audience alike. The venue was half-full and still filling up as tonight’s support act The Chemists took to the stage.
Launching into an impressive set of up-tempo indie tracks the audience eventually got into the swing of things. Vocalist Steve Bird was trying his hardest to motivate the Lincoln crowd and after a few faster numbers the audience were dancing along with the Bristol-based rockers.
Playing tracks from their debut album “Theories Of Dr. Lovelock”, The Chemists treated the ever growing throng of people to the fantastic “Hear Our Song” and “This City”. They also gave a great performance of “Kill” which is available as a free download from their Myspace.
After The Chemists had left the stage it was time for possibly the coolest band to have ever played the city to take to the stage. The half-size Engine Shed was fit to burst with Fun Lovin’ Criminal fans who erupted in an explosion of applause and cheers as the New Yorkers kicked into the funkalicious “We, The Three”.
As soon as front man Huey Morgan made his presence known it was obvious he was in control of the stage and audience. The crowd were eating up everything he had to say, even when the joke he tried to tell was ruined by a woman in the crowd – leading to booing from everyone else.
Playing tracks from their entire back catalogue including “Korean Bodega”, “Loco” and “The Preacher”. The most impressive performance on stage came from Brian Leiser AKA Fast who took the duties of bass, keyboards, trumpet and harmonica. Seeing a man play a keyboard and trumpet at the same time is nothing short of impressive.
Songs “King Of New York” and “Scooby Snacks” obviously received an almighty ovation. The entire crowd shouting along the chorus to both songs at the top of their voices. Including the now infamous Pulp Fiction sound bite before “Scooby Snacks” was a nice addition.
Throughout the night Huey Morgan was incredibly grateful for the Lincoln audience for coming to see him and Fun Lovin’ Criminals. Perhaps a sentiment felt by the whole of the music community, Morgan said: “I believe bands should come to the people, not the other way around”.
Ending the night on a flawless performance of “The Fun Lovin’ Criminal” with everyone in attendance dancing and singing along to every word. Even ‘surrendering’ to the lyrics “Stick ’em up punk, it’s the fun lovin’ criminal”, is a testament to how many fans FLC still have despite being out of the limelight for a few years.
Definitely one of the best gigs to have ever happened at the Engine Shed, and certainly the coolest. Fun Lovin’ Criminals brought the funk to Lincoln and Lincoln didn’t show any signs of giving it up.