FunLovingCriminals at TheAcademy-8231-2

Fun Lovin’ Criminal’s at the Academy, Dublin, 17th of January 2014

There was much chatter following Huey Morgan’s cup-smashing antics on Never Mind The Buzzcocks last November. The Fun Lovin’ Criminals’ frontman had caused the biggest sensation on the show since Ordinary Boys singer Preston walked off, tired of Simon Amstell’s mockery. Huey stayed until the end of the show (well technically, he walked off 10 seconds before the credits rolled) but suddenly people were talking about his band again.

Perhaps it was this publicity – and there’s always a question of whether Morgan’s public persona is more constructed than genuine – that filled The Academy for a band that hasn’t had a hit in a decade. It’s just as likely that FLC have a core of fans committed to reliving some of the standout hits of the 90s.

Morgan and his two co-conspirators take to the stage in dinner suits, mics in hand and blast out Bear Hug. The idea of three 40-something, well-dressed, white men rapping might fill some with dread, but their sense of self-determination makes it feel natural. They are not trying to be anyone other than themselves, and they don’t take themselves too seriously (do you really think Morgan has spent the last 20 years stoned?)

Morgan of course is a great raconteur and his onstage banter is always entertaining. He speaks about his love of Dublin too and he at least seems to know what he’s talking about; he speaks of his encounters with “the guards”, for example.

But it’s not just charm and humour that the three-piece, now stationed behind their instruments, can offer. Morgan is actually a fantastic guitarist and is more than happy to show off his talents, even if he spends a bit too much time looking self-satisfied than you would like. Frank Benbini (drums) and Brian Leiser (everything else) can more than hold up their instrumental end of the bargain too.

From the sing along of King of New York to the rock of Where the Bums Go to the funk of The Grave And The Constant, the crowd are led like the children of Hamelin to Morgan’s will. Then there are the big hitters of Loco and Scooby Snacks which got the crowd really moving and, thankfully, didn’t get anyone executed.

But even when knocking out the hits, there is a little something missing. While Fun Lovin’ Criminals do bring the crowd along for an enjoyable ride, there is never any feeling that the roof is going to be lifted off The Academy. There was just never a sense that the audience were going to be blown away by the performance.

Love Unlimited, with its call and response of “Barry White”, and The Fun Lovin’ Criminal finish the set in a similar vein; they are very entertaining though never spectacular. They do make you wish that Fun Lovin’ Criminals still wrote and released top songs. At the moment though, they are still a band worth seeing live.

Fun Lovin’ Criminals Photo Gallery

Photos: Michelle Geraghty