With this gig being upgraded from the originally intended Academy 2 to the main room it begs the question as to why Reel Big Fish were ever booked to play the smaller venue anyway? Answers on a postcard please....) Perhaps it was the fact that there were four times the number originally expected that led to the logistical problem that continually seems to have beset the Newcastle Academy of late when a decent crowd turns up. Namely that there was a huge snaking throng outside the venue that took until after 8pm to fully enter the building. All of that meant that, by the time this reviewer finally got inside, Sonic Boom Six had long since left the stage and Streetlight Manifesto were halfway through their second song in a set that lasted just over 20 minutes. There was little for this reviewer to distinguish between the 5 or so songs I caught but the bands energy was infectious and this translated into a crowd response that started to warm up towards the end of their brief time onstage.

After a short breakdown Reel Big Fish stormed the stage and over the next 80 minutes kicked the collective asses of the packed Academy. This was the first night of the UK tour but the band hit their stride immediately, Reel Big Fish were also breaking in new bassist Derek Gibbs (in place of the recently departed Matt Wong) but their energy was undimmed. Whether it was tracks from latest album “Monkeys For Nothing & Your Chimps For Free” such as “Another F.U Song” , “My Imaginary Friend” or “Party Down” (which comes across almost like a distilled version of the many live interpretations of “Suburban Rhythm”) or old favourites like “Trendy”, “Ban The Tube Top” and “Beer” Reel Big Fish delivered a no nonsense, fat free set that got the suspended floor of the Academy literally bouncing at times. You see, Reel Big Fish have fun onstage and this translates to the audience who reciprocate, and amplify the tone. The pastiche of “Enter Sandman” got genuinely warm reaction and combined with bringing out Sonic Boom Six's Laila to provide vocals on “She's Got A Girlfriend Now” helped to give the audience something to remember the gig by.

All too soon however the band had delivered the encores and were gone, the strains of their raucous cover of “Take On Me” ringing in everyone's ears. Reel Big Fish provided a consummate evenings entertainment with their mix of humour, energy and some damn catchy songs. Catch them if you can, you wont be disappointed.

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