Live Review: Primal Scream - Eventim, London 10/04/2025
Primal Scream are a psychedelic dream at the Eventim Apollo.
Providing a suitably eccentric opening support slot at a buzzing Hammersmith Apollo, Mozart Estate, formerly called Go-Kart Mozart are an indie pop band with a jaunty, madcap sound that is wonderfully weird and clearly captivates a charmed crowd. Singer and founder is the reclusive Lawrence, previously of indie band Felt, who formed the group as a reaction to a previous lack of commercial success and has called them “The world's first B-side band.” Their sound is layered, with a synth pop and upbeat lyrics. At one point in an aside between songs, lead singer Lawrence quips with deliciously dry delivery: “I don’t mind these early starts, I’ll be home in time for The Apprentice, it’s all good”, in his broad Brummie drawl. The biography ‘Street-Level Superstar’ came out late last year following a year in the life of Lawrence, Britain's most singular musical genius who never hit the big time. Set closer ‘We’re Selfish and Lazy and Greedy’ has a highly upbeat feel, despite it being a song where the main refrain is ‘People like me, selfish and lazy and greedy”.
Continuing the eccentric vibe, main support Fat White Family are known for their deliberately off-putting sound and outlook, with song lyrics tackling unusual topics with a warped morality. Their sound is very much a cacophonous riot, from the punk sound booming through the Apollo of ‘Without Consent’ as frontman Lias Saoudi declares the song is about a friendship gone sour, to the more spoken word ‘I am Mark E Smith’ or as Lias says jokingly “From a song about molestation to one about Mark”. Lia is a highly energetic frontman and is mesmerising to watch, ending the first song crouched on the floor rhythmically gasping. The keyboardist switches between synths, saxophone and the flute, which is quite unorthodox for anindie punk band, and he later accompanies Primal Scream.
Gracing the stage and oozing rock and roll from every pore, Primal Scream enter majestically to the poignantly chosen soundtrack of the Jackie DeShannon classic ‘What The World Needs Now Is Love’. Opening with the mesmerizingly trippy ‘Don’t Fight It, Feel It’, from the seminal ‘Screamadelica’, Bobby Gilespie has the crowd in the palm of his hands with his effortless charisma as he flamboyantly commands the stage. It seems hard to believe that the album was released in 1991, it still sounds as fresh and relevant today.
‘Jailbird’ is superb with its dirty riff and melodic chorus, providing a set highlight so early on. ‘Deep Dark Waters’ feels particularly apt in the current divisive political climate, with Elon Musk doing a salute and the devastation in Gaza projected on the screen behind the band. This is the second single from their new album ‘Come Ahead’ which came out last November and is described as a warning from history in a recent NME interview upon its release, with the line ‘We go like cattle to the slaughter/ To the slaughter’, evoking the hopelessness of war.
‘Loaded’ with its iconic hook gets the crowd stomping and shouting along, providing a real high point of energy in the show, despite Bobby's sardonic response “Is that the best you can do you soft Southern c*nts!” resulting in roars of laughter in the audience. ‘Country Girl’ gets the crowd singing along in a change of pace from their high energy grooves. Signature ‘Screamadelica’ classic ‘Come Together’ inspires sheer euphoria, with everyone dancing and completely lost in a glorious moment of sentimentality, the song possessing an almost transcendental quality that cements Primal Scream’s reputation as one of the best rock bands in the business with this sublime performance tonight. Closing with ‘Rocks’ the crowd are left floating out of the Apollo on a wave of ecstasy, not wanting the rock n roll party to end.
Words by Brendan Sharp
Photo credit: Douglas Irvine
