F1 ROCKS GOES UP A GEAR - FRIDAY NIGHT
26th September 2009
The stellar second night at F1 Rocks™ Singapore with LG opened with a blistering set from N*E*R*D. The band’s beat-heavy urban onslaught was bolstered by not one, but two drummers, who burst into an athletic dual drum solo mid-set. Photogenic front-man Pharrell Williams invited members of the audience up on stage throughout their short set to help whip up the huge crowd that had arrived early; climaxing with a stage full of adoring female fans gyrating to the band’s 2001 hit ‘Lapdance’. Although only on stage for just over half an hour, N*E*R*D by far proved their worth and surely secured themselves a much higher billing at future F1 Rocks events.
Scotland’s Simple Minds rose to the stiff challenge of following N*E*R*D with a display of showmanship synonymous of a band with over 30 years on the clock. Singer Jim Kerr, in an earlier interview with f1rocks.com said that, although the bill for their night at F1 Rocks was at the very least wildly eclectic, the one thing all of the acts had in common was their esteemed reputations for playing live. And this was certainly the case with Simple Minds, who performed with a level of energy and gusto rarely found in acts of half their age. This power was most evident on scream-along favourites ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me) and ‘Alive and Kicking’, which deftly demonstrated why they are as relevant today as they ever have been.
Pushing the levels of experience and survivability a further 10 years, ZZ Top followed with blues heavy blast from behind signature dark glasses and chest length beards. Guitarist Billy Gibbons was once nam-checked by Jimi Hendrix as his favourite guitar player. This plaudit from arguably the world’s most acclaimed master of the six string was celebrated on stage last night with an impromptu cover of Hendrix’s ‘Foxy Lady’. However, even more recognisable to the predominately young crowd were the band’s biggest hits, ‘Gimme All Your Lovin’ and ‘Legs’, which – in the balmy temperature of the park – went down a storm.
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