FUN LOVIN CRIMINALS

FUN LOVIN CRIMINALS LIVE IN NOTTINGHAM.

The Fun Lovin Criminals (@funlovincrims / @funlovincriminals) played the awesome Rescue Rooms (@rescuerooms) in Nottingham with special guests Short Sharp Scratch (@shortsharpscratchmusic) on Tuesday 19^th Dec 2023.

Both Short Sharp Scratch and the Fun Lovin’ Criminals played phenomenal sets, and I really do mean phenomenal.

It was my first time hearing Short Sharp Scratch but it won’t be my last. With such fantastic song writing and such a tight, funky performance it had me, and the crowd, captivated from start to finish. It was certainly an arena worthy performance and I’m sure that it won’t be long before they play such venues (or even larger venues such as the Civic in Wolverhampton). A great mix of Funk, Disco and Pop with silky smooth vocals, frequency perfect guitar solos and complementary drums they are well worth a listen.

The Fun Lovin’ Criminals are now in full swing of the era of #faithinfast. Fast takes over the frontman duties and Naim (@naimcortazzi) (Frank’s writing and band brother in Uncle Frank) is a more than worthy addition filling out the guitar duties. For those who know their instruments the Epiphone SG he uses at times is seen as the entry level model but in Naim’s hands it sounds just as good as a much more expensive Gibson version which is testament to how he can handle a guitar.

Frank (@benbini) has always been one of my top ranked drummers, he makes it look so effortless whilst providing backing vocals and crowd encouragement, the guy is a machine, a real driving force and powerhouse of a drummer.

Watching Fast has always been a fascinating experience live, the multi-instrumental skilled legend he is, with his keys, trumpet, footboard bass (midi), the samples and the bass guitar itself this new version of FLC shows him grab the mic and really own it front and centre when they play the track Fun Lovin’ Criminals.

Being the 25^th Anniversary of 100% Columbian we are treated to the album in full along with some fan favourites and even a track from their latest ep which really funks.

There was hardly room to move tonight, the place was absolutely packed out for the FLC with people dancing, grooving, singing and moving. The great happy vibe was strong.

The night also happened to be Franks dads 70^th Birthday. He was of course in attendance and the band and crowd treated him with a very loud rendition of Happy Birthday. And the Benbini Family celebrations didn’t stop there, his daughter had come to watch him for the first time in 10 years so it was a great night for Frank.

Having seen them in a previous incarnation a few times it is clear that the FLC have a new lease of life, they seem more invigorated and really bouncing off each other, 3 music brothers onstage loving life and performing.

There are 2 current types of FLC fans at the moment. The “No Huey No FLC” crowd and the “#faithinfast” crowd. I’m firmly in the latter. I had so much fun watching them it was well worth the 1-and-a-half-hour drive there and back. Don’t get me wrong, I love Huey, and I’m glad to have seen the FLC with him at the helm, but sometimes change can be good, change can be beneficial, and to see the new lease of life on that stage this change is both those things.

Yes of course in the future I’d love, along with many others I’m sure, to see a reunion of the FLC from the previous version, it may happen, it may not happen, but either way don’t let that put you off seeing them as they are now as you will have one of the best nights with some of the most genuinely talented musicians/showmen still on the circuit today.

And I’d like to take this opportunity to say the venue is fantastic and a special mention goes out to the lighting engineer @ditheridge.lx who did a fantastic job on the shows ambience. Perhaps the best lighting I have ever seen in such a small venue. Through the lens you could easily have been tricked into thinking you were in a small arena with how the lighting was so Kudos to them.