It is a surreal experience seeing your favourite childhood band play a gig at your local venue about 15 years after you fell in love with them. Yet, I was still part of the rather long queue to see Busted at the Brudenell last Wednesday night.

In all honesty, the launch of the album ‘Half Way There’ closely resembled the type of music Busted were playing when I saw them at Wembley Arena in 2004. Although all members are now in their 30’s, new songs remain fairly uncomplex, exemplified in the lyrics to ‘All my Friends’ reading “All my friends got fat, but you could say their lives are right on track”…simple but effective, or maybe just simple?

The band played a short set of 7 songs, beginning with ‘That’s What I Go to School For’ followed by two songs from their new album.

Matt’s mention of Busted’s upcoming tour in March, the closest venue to Leeds being Manchester (obviously receiving a “Booooo” from the audience), resulted in the classic “Yorkshire” chant leading Matt to say “I hate where I’m from, I should move to Yorkshire!”

The band introduced new drummer Eddie Thrower from Lower Than Atlantis who is touring with them on their mini album-launch tour as well as their ‘Meet Me There’ tour beginning in March. Charlie joked about the promise of big arena tours when in reality, Eddie sat playing a kids-like drum kit in a rather tiny venue in Hyde Park.

Busted ended on ‘Meet you There’, during which Matt made his way into the crowd, taking selfies with fans, singing amongst the audience.

Gabby Kenny

All Images by Jessica McCarrick