If there's one moment that encapsulates the essence of the UK's fastest rising new pop kids, it happens tonight during one brief, fleeting moment;

"Come back down here Harry," beckons guitarist and singer Danny to the band's distant figure of a drummer, perched at the back of an impressively glitzy set. "Girls, this is going to be your only chance to get a full body shot, so get your camera's ready!"

McFly answer their doubters with one fell swoop. Tonight's show is everything a classic pop concert should be and more; hordes of screaming teens, a colossal stage set, massive sound system and several important lessons learnt.

The first, and most important of these lessons, is that McFly couldn't care less about pretence; wearing the pop badge with pride.

Kicking off tonight's sold out London show, we quickly pick up our second lesson of the night - the band are also fine musicians.

With all the showmanship of a queen concert, a drape falls as we're launched into "Saturday Night", backed by the colossal sound of around 2500 screaming teenage girls. It doesn't let up.

The band soon hit their stride and we soon hit number one territory, with a pitch-perfect version of "Obviously"; frankly, with every track greeted by the obligatory screams, McFly could play the same track on loop. But they don't, and tonight's concert shines for that very reason; the band enjoy the performance as much as their dedicated followers, even throwing in rock concert staples like drum solos and a mass sing-along on the forlorn "Hypnotised".

"This is a song I wrote about being at home, listening to music in my own little world and...uh, yeah!," says tom, introducing another slice of 3 minute pop rock fun. McFly have got nothing to hide because they're unashamedly living the simple, uncomplicated and totally unashamed pop existence.

The set may have been short, at under an hour, but if they hang on to their honest sentiment, McFly could well be with us for some time yet.

7.

written by on 14/10/2004 00:00:00