FM / Rescue Rooms / Nottingham

May 7

May 7 FM / Rescue Rooms / Nottingham

Another trip into Nottingham and to the Rescue Rooms, to catch legendary British rockers FM on their 40th anniversary “Old Habits Die Hard” tour.

And what a line up we have tonight, with FM at 40 years, and the amazing Collateral, barely starting out on their musical journey. With both bands having a strong following, the place is packed soon after door open. There’s a few of us here tonight to photograph and review the show, another sign of the popularity of both bands !

The time flies by and soon Collateral are bouncing out on to the stage. First out come Louis Malagodi (guitar), Ben Atkinson (drums) and Jack Bently-Smith (bass) before frontman Angelo Tristan sprints out onto the stage to huge applause. Having released their debut EP in 2018, Collateral, have built up a huge following.

They start the set with their latest single Glass Sky from their soon to be released second album “Should’ve Known Better”. Angelo is the ultimate rock frontman, flamboyant: always with a huge smile on his face, bare chest, leather biker jacket and long flowing hair, he’s a huge presence.

Collateral are on fire tonight, Louis riffs are fast and furious backed by Jack’s heavy bass, delivery some real catchy hooks.

The new material fits in well in their live set, and shows a new maturity to their sound. Their energy levels are infectious and the crowd are really into the performance. A short set of only 30mins and 6 songs, but they’re all delivered perfectly. I really enjoyed No Place For Love and the final song Midnight Queen.

Almost as soon as it starts, the set is over. Collateral are an incredible live experience and I loved the new material. Well worth checking out.

Their new album “Should’ve Known Better” is out soon, with a special launch show planned for 26 May at The Underworld in Camden.

Setlist

Glass Sky

Mr Big Shot

No Place For Love

On The Long Road

Merry Go Round

Midnight Queen

A quick change round, and final check of the sound levels and we’re ready for FM. Formed in the summer of 1984 in London, they’ve had an incredible career, releasing 14 studio albums from their debut “Indiscreet” in 1986, right up to the release of “Old Habits Die Hard” earlier in 2024.

I had to laugh out loud as the entrance music started up, that famous old advertising music from trips to the cinema , as Jim Kirkpatrick (guitar), Pete Jupp (drums), Merv Goldsworthy (bass) and Jem Davis (keyboards) take their places before they are joined by Steve Overland to a huge round of applause. Steve opens his arms and welcomes the crowd as the first notes of Digging Up The Dirt ring out, taken from their 2015 album “Heroes and Villains”. It’s clear that even after 40 years, FM have a strong following as the audience all join in and sing along.

The set list has a bit for every fan, covering all the era’s and something from pretty much every studio album along the way from That Girl and Hot Wired from 1986’s debut “Indiscreet”, Bad Luck and Tough It Out from 1989’s “Tough It Out”, Closer to Heaven from 1992 album “Aphrodisiac”, Story of My Life from 2013 album “Rockville”, Digging Up The Dirt from 2015’s “Heroes and Villains”, Killed By Love “Atomic Generation” released in 2018, Synchronizedfrom the 2020 album of the same name, Turn This Car Around from 2020’s “Thirteen” right up to date with Out Of The Blue from this years “Old Habits Die Hard”.

As you’d expect from a band with such a career and pedigree, the performance is slick, tight and incredibly polished. But its also enjoyable, with a bad at ease and interacting effortlessly with their audience. There isn’t a weak song in the list, and I particularly enjoyed the renditions of Don’t Need Another Heartache and Say It Like It Is.

FM were on fire tonight at the Rescue Rooms, and they showed there’s plenty still to come. The album and tour are perfectly names “Old Habits Die Hard” and its true, when the habit in question is good old hard rockin’ !!!

The veterans, and the new boys were both brilliant tonight, and gelled together brilliantly. A great night, and highly recommended.

Setlist

Digging Up The Dirt

Tough It Out

Killed by Love

Someday (You’ll Come Running)

Don’t Need Another Heartache

Everytime I Think Of you

Out of the Blue

The Dream that Died

Synchronized

Say It Like It Is