{"id":130925,"date":"2023-09-25T11:48:30","date_gmt":"2023-09-25T11:48:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluemull.com\/?p=130925"},"modified":"2023-09-25T11:48:30","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T11:48:30","slug":"busted-at-manchesters-ao-arena-review-pure-pop-nostalgia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluemull.com\/lifestyle\/busted-at-manchesters-ao-arena-review-pure-pop-nostalgia\/","title":{"rendered":"Busted at Manchesters AO Arena review – pure pop nostalgia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It was a throwback set full of pure pop nostalgia.\u00a0<\/span>Celebrating 20 years, Busted are back. And if a sell-out arena tour – the biggest of 2023 – and a number one album – Greatest Hits 2.0 – are anything to go by, members Charlie Simpson, Matt Willis and James Bourne have been sorely missed. \u201cWe were in the freezer for 14 years, so we\u2019re fresh,\u201d joked James, who recently celebrated his 40th birthday. A little look at the Manchester crowd – a sea of 21,000 Millennials, myself included – revealed many of them had too. \u201cWe know lots of bands who haven\u2019t lasted this long, and for some reason we have,\u201d mused Matt, 40. Watching their high-octane set, I\u2019d say the reason is clear – Busted give their all, and have fun doing so.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The show opened with a video from Back to the Future professor, Dr Emmet Brown (played by Christopher Lloyd), ramping up an energy that didn\u2019t wane once throughout the set.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Proceedings kicked off with Air Hostess, Meet You There and Loser Kid.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With a high production value, the show had it all, from hydraulics, pyrotechnics, fire and confetti, to retro-style graphics, including old Nokia phones and MSN Messenger, a nod to the band\u2019s inception in 2002.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Floppy-haired music videos in the background laid bare the passage of time. But the songs, revamped for the new album, sounded fresh. New song Good One was received well, sung in the band\u2019s signature rock-pop style.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going back into the studio when the tour is over,\u201d Charlie, 38, told the crowd, promising more new material to come.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n For me, Who\u2019s David and 3am were the highlights, with the latter showing off Charlie\u2019s distinctive voice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve never done this before,\u201d Matt Willis told the crowd a little later, before a spotlight revealed a proposal in the audience. \u201cWe\u2019re going to crash your wedding,\u201d he continued, launching into the song of the same name.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As the set drew to a close we came full circle with another Dr Emmet Brown video, introducing an encore of Teenage Kicks and Year 3000 – arguably the band\u2019s biggest hit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Loud, proud and unashamedly fun – it was a lesson in how to put on a pop concert.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Busted are back – and not a moment too soon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n