Friday night and Cardiff International Arena is filled to the brim with a crowd ranging from ex-ravers to young teens, students and the Valleys’ finest, all waiting for superstar DJ Fatboy Slim to enter the stage. When he did, a hefty headline set resulted, running to over two hours. Norman Cook remains one of the best DJs of our time; he showed no signs of stopping and kept his energy up the whole night.
The show starts with a tribute to departed artists: Keith Flint, David Bowie, Prince and Heath Ledger have their photos displayed on a massive screen suspended above Cook’s decks, with the currently topical (and rather more alive) Gary Lineker also pictured at one point. A touching tribute, immediately followed by the signature Fatboy Slim dance pandemonium. Cook seems to be having the time of his life on the CIA stage as he proceeds to parody an American church preacher, instructing the crowd to sit down while he spoke; unsurprisingly, this moment of calm is shortlived, and everyone resumes their positions as the music continued.
In a recent interview with Buzz, Cook outlined how this tour was meant to share the joys and togetherness of dance music, something which is certainly put in place tonight. Diverting away from his classic hits, it’s clear he’s playing the music he wants to play: the experimental, high-energy tracks that are quintessentially Fatboy Slim. I feel the crowd would have appreciated some more ‘recognisable’ hits, but the performance is strong enough to remedy that concern. Cook can truly put on a show – the use of lighting and pyrotechnics is particularly breathtaking, and the aforementioned screen is used throughout to project trippy images and videos across the whole arena, often showing close-ups of Cook’s delighted face.
Nearly thirty years down the line, Fatboy Slim is just as engaging as ever, and – aside from the behaviour of a few audience members – a very good evening was had in his company.
Fatboy Slim, Cardiff International Arena, Fri 24 Mar
words RHIANNON FARR photos ANTHONY CONWAY
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