New sound, new special effectsAlice French

They say you don’t know a good thing until it’s gone, and that’s certainly true of Charlie Simpson in Busted. Despite the phenomenal success of 2013 ‘supergroup’ McBusted, the absence of Simpson’s lead vocals and commanding stage presence in Busted’s portion of the live show could not be overlooked. His return to the band last year was the sort of welcome homecoming that can only be likened to the relief one feels having been reunited with one’s phone after losing it in the Cindies toilets. The opportunity to see the full trio that provided the soundtrack to many of our childhoods at Cambridge’s Corn Exchange on 30th January was therefore not to be missed.

“They do possess a level of musical maturity that almost seems out of place considering James Bourne still seems to be wearing the same denim cut offs he was sporting fourteen years ago.”

This was not, however, a gig to satisfy those of us longing to relive the hazy memories of primary school discos through Busted classics such as ‘You Said No’ and ‘What I Go to School For’. This is because the primary aim of the Night Driver tour is to promote the band’s new album of the same name, which is out now, and so the show was understandably dominated by new tracks. This album marks a departure from the boyish punk-rock style of their earlier records, Busted and A Present for Everyone, and the beginning of a foray into trendy electropop. That is not to say that their new singles, ‘On What You’re On’ and ‘Thinking of You’, lack the infectious energy that we all know and love, but they do possess a level of musical maturity that almost seems out of place considering James Bourne still seems to be wearing the same denim cut offs he was sporting fourteen years ago.

Whatever your thoughts on Night Driver however, there was no mistaking that Busted have successfully adapted their stage show to suit an audience in 2017, with impressive lighting and a clean performance style to show that the boys have done at least some growing up during their hiatus. Witnessing Busted play live in such an intimate venue also highlighted the easily forgotten fact that all the members are talented musicians in their own right. Matt, Charlie, and James all play guitar, can operate a synthesiser and contribute their distinctive vocals to every track, making for a very enjoyable live show. There was also a feeling that the audience, comprised mainly of nostalgic early-twenty-somethings, were not just there for the hysterical singalong to ‘Year 3000’, but were also keen to celebrate the musical achievements of the boys and ready to appreciate their new offerings. 

While Night Driver may not provide the chart-topping bangers for which the band are best known, Busted’s live show proves that they can still captivate an audience more than ten years after their debut. I maintain that anyone who claims they didn’t lose their mind upon hearing the opening riff of ‘Air Hostess’ is lying through their teeth.