MCFLY LIVE AT TK. MAXX PRESENTS… THE PIECE HALL AT HALIFAX

★★★★★ (5/5)

**MCFLY PERFORMING AT TK. MAXX PRESENTS.. THE PIECE HALL AT HALIFAX**
**PHOTOCREDIT: EMMA GIBBON**

As the sun set on the warm summer's evening of 10th August 2024, McFly fans eagerly awaited the band’s entrance at one of the UK’s most visually striking venues - The Piece Hall in Halifax. The elevated atmosphere could be felt from front to back as the crowd sang and danced in excitement to the ‘YMCA’ before McFly promptly bounced onto the stage. From start to finish, the 4-piece kept up their unmatched high-energy presence throughout.

The set began with the popular single ‘Where Did All The Guitars Go’ from the band’s latest album ‘Power To Play’, which reflects the band's frustration with the decline of guitar-driven music in the mainstream, and their passion for the rock genre to live on. McFly’s true love for music along with the tightness of their bond was clear to see throughout the entirety of the show, engaging the crowd at every opportunity.

Unafraid to bring out the undeniable classics early on, ‘One For The Radio’ saw everyone fist pumping into the air in unison, followed by a clear crowd favourite, ‘Star Girl’, from the ever-popular 2000’s album ‘Motion In The Ocean’.

McFly continued to wow their fans throughout the polished yet unique performance that brought about a genuine connection, with northerner and frontman Danny Jones even referencing his trips to Halifax as a child, visiting Eureka (which sits within the vicinity of The Piece Hall itself) on school trips. With strong stage presence, charisma, and audience interactions, McFly creates a lively and inclusive atmosphere for all to enjoy.

The band soared through a plethora of hits from their spanning back catalogue, showcasing catchy melodies, upbeat energy, and a mix of guitar-driven rock and pop hooks. It’s clear that the feel-good, youthful vibe from the 2003 formation shines through to present day, with a nod to the passing years with subtle lyrical changes. This included the crowd-pleasing, hard-hitting, live line: ‘It’s not always easy, but McFly’s here forever’, which came about during a surprise rendition of ‘The Heart Never Lies’, as requested by a fan in the front row.

If the solid line-up of songs wasn’t enough, the set was packed with playful chatter and extended bridges in which Danny would have the venue testing their vocal capacity through comically extended notes, emotional sways, and group jumps from down on the ground.

With the audience invested throughout, ‘Shine A Light’ from McFly’s sound-shifting dance-pop album ‘Above The Noise’ was happily well received and had the crowd as energised as ever.

Later into the evening, Dougie mischievously stops the set to tell Danny he had just messed up his guitar solo; Danny responds by bursting out into a mashup of snippets from a solid list of timeless pop-rock classics including ‘Living On A Prayer’ and ‘Twist & Shout’. The rest of the band get on board and fans chant along, ending in an encouraging round of applause.

Danny showed true rockstar energy when the “Lost Song” ‘Red’ began, as the vocals-only participation left him enthusiastically running around the stage surrounded by red lights and a flashing red backdrop to enhance the mood.

Just as the set was drawing to an end, the band slipped in another surprise fan favourite, ‘Broccoli’, from their very first album ‘Room On The Third Floor’ (2004), complete with the final hit of the night, ‘Five Colours In Her Hair’. The ending was nothing short of energetic, with the band encouraging claps and jumps to give the crowd one last beautiful moment from an unforgettable night.

With a final exclamation, Danny tells the audience: “Thank you for your energy, thank you for your noise, thank you for your tears and your smiles - we have been McFly.” Instruments get put down and the band soak up the final moments of a cheering crowd as ‘God Gave Rock & Roll’ by ‘KISS’ sees them off stage.

From Dougie humorously jumping on his hidden trampoline, to jokes and tales about best friends ‘Busted’, the band excelled in making the set truly entertaining from all angles. With incredible stage presence and even greater voices, a McFly gig is always one to remember.