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Britain's best-known "political band" and self-confessed "21st century MIDI warriors" can also produce rather fine music, a fact that can sometimes be overshadowed by their formidable campaigning image.
Set opener Cyberabad, with its dub leanings and woozy rhythm, was to prove the evening's quietest moment. Named after India's hi-tech industry area, the track was scant preparation for the rhythmic fury that was to follow.
ADF's new seven-piece line-up includes two young MCs (formerly of Invasian), guitar, bass drums, decks'n'FX from founder Pandit G and... a sizeable vision in white with wild hair and the appearance of The Chief from One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.
Playing tabla and then transferring his skills to the Punjabi dohl, the gigantic figure of Pritpal Rajput dominated the stage, and he seemed happy to occupy the centre of it. The two MCs, tiny by comparison, were well versed in the new album's material and danced and hopped about the stage in lairy fashion, baseball caps and trainers providing a foil for Pritpal's rather more traditional dress sense. Their rapping was frenetic, but one could also hear the words most of the time, which was a pleasant surprise.
The band's political leanings were, of course, never far away. Old favourite Free Satpal Ram was aired once more, although the cause of their song is now at liberty, albeit on licence. And ADF were not about to be upstaged by Ms Dynamite, Coldplay or Blue's anti-war stances. The rhetoric might've been difficult for anyone not initiated into ADF's purpose, but such people could at least appreciate the passion and conviction on display.
Other standouts included La Haine, with its infectious guitar riff and compelling tabla, which makes an appearance on the new album Enemy of the Enemy. The title track of the album provoked much bouncing amongst the crowd too, and recent single Fortress Europe brought the crowd one step away from mass hyperventilation.
Famed for their live shows, ADF appear to have gained from the injection of new blood into their line-up. The intense rhythms were impossible to ignore and, while the Sinead O'Connor collaboration 1000 Mirrors was notably absent, there was plenty else to go wild to.
A long set and an encore left those in the stalls area of this grande dame of theatres exhausted and panting for breath, while the upper circles might as well not have had seats - everyone was dancing there, too. Catch ADF on tour if you want to lose a few pounds dancing - and gain some insights.
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