The Prodigy @ Hollywood Palladium May 27th

By Alexander Laurence

The Prodigy is one of the best live acts in the world. They have done five albums and sold over twenty million records. They had a worldwide number one record with Fat of The Land in 1997. They were sort of at the tail-end of the Britpop movement. In America they never seemed to catch on, because they played festivals only, and people here struggled with the idea of this punk techno band, that had no guitar, and was mostly computer generated. A few years later we had the watered-down versions with Korn and Limp Bizcuit. The Prodigy was definitely ahead of their time.

It all goes back to hiphop culture and British techno music. Many critics called them "faceless techno dummies." The Prodigy would take this music into a new direction. They were influenced by punk, techno, the rave scene, Kool Keith, and the Beastie Boys. They started out as a rave type band, but in 1997, Keith Flint re-invented himself. He started singing on some tracks like "Firestarter." Before Flint and Maxim Reality were more like dancers and frontmen to Liam Howlett's musical beast. They toured heavily for a few years, but rarely in America.

So tonight's show was their first Hollywood appearance in fifteen years. They are playing rather large venues and arenas this time. Apparently people have gotten the idea. Most Britpop bands are more popular now than they were in 1995-1998. The warriors have gathered. It also helps that the new Prodigy album is the best thing they did in many years. We have new anthems like "Omen" and "Hounds On The Run" to go along with the older hits. Every song is a fun track. The audience is hopping up and down to the beat. Flint and Maxim Reality can really energize a crowd

The Palladium was packed with fans, and other bands, checking out what this is all about. I saw some guy dressed up like a robot. They didn't let him in. I haven't been to a rave in a while, since I went to Electric Daisy. That was a disappointing affair. The Prodigy made the idea of raving fun again. They, along with Nine Inch Nails and Beastie Boys, are re-energizing the hiphop and electronic music scene, which their very physical music. Definitely a show to see this year!