I was introduced to Feeder by Kerrang Magazine, one of the free CDs featured “My Perfect Day”. Of course, I loved it so much I immediately recorded it onto a ‘mix tape’ and played it on constant repeat whilst cycling to and from college – their sound and lyricism blew me away and I’ve been following them ever since. A good 20-years later and Feeder are playing a sold-out show at the O2 Academy and Birmingham welcomed Feeder with the kind of devotion that can only be earned over decades. The O2 Academy felt less like a venue and more like a reunion of people who have carried these songs through the hardest and brightest moments of their lives. That shared history shaped every second of this show.
Performing Comfort In Sound in full gave the night a strong emotional architecture. Just The Way I’m Feeling and Come Back Around hit immediately, reminding us how expertly this album balances vulnerability with uplift. The set moved with purpose: the intimate rise of Child In You, the grit of Godzilla, the reflective warmth of Find The Colour. The songs didn’t feel like nostalgia pieces, they felt lived-in, still healing, still relevant.
Moonshine delivered a stunning close to the main set. The extended outro wasn’t just musical indulgence; it was a space for acknowledgement. A moment that allowed fans to feel the enduring presence of Jon Lee, whose energy remains woven into every beat of Feeder’s story, a collective breath of respect and gratitude. It was deeply felt.
The encore turned emotion into celebration. High, Feeling A Moment, and Pushing The Senses lit up the room with joy and volume. The surprises of Kyoto and Insomnia sent a ripple of excitement through the die-hard fans, and Opaque kept that energy sharp. Then the finale that Birmingham was waiting for: Buck Rogers erupting in pure catharsis, and Just A Day finishing the night with fists-in-the-air euphoria; the crowd moving, breathing, singing as one.
Throughout it all, the band’s musicianship was impeccable. Grant Nicholas delivered vocals with clarity and genuine feeling; Taka Hirose’s bass saturated the room with groove. Geoff Holroyde's drumming drove everything forward with precision, power, and a real feel for dynamics; he lifted every chorus and sharpened every drop.
The encore turned emotion into celebration. High, Feeling A Moment, and Pushing The Senses lit up the room with joy and volume. The surprises of Kyoto and Insomnia sent a ripple of excitement through the die-hard fans, and Opaque kept that energy sharp. Then the finale that Birmingham was waiting for: Buck Rogers erupting in pure catharsis, and Just A Day finishing the night with fists-in-the-air euphoria; the crowd moving, breathing, singing as one.
Throughout it all, the band’s musicianship was impeccable. Grant Nicholas delivered vocals with clarity and genuine feeling; Taka Hirose’s bass saturated the room with groove. Geoff Holroyde's drumming drove everything forward with precision, power, and a real feel for dynamics; he lifted every chorus and sharpened every drop.
Tommy Gleeson on rhythm guitar and backing vocals added depth and texture throughout, reinforcing the melodic foundations while broadening the sound with effortless style. For all that can be said of Feeder’s technical prowess, the most striking quality wasn’t precision, it was connection. Every smile traded onstage, every chorus chanted by the crowd, every moment where it felt like the barrier between band and audience simply dissolved.
Feeder have never chased spectacle for its own sake. What they create is something rarer: trust. Their fans give them their full voice because Feeder have earned it, song by song, year by year. The love in that room wasn’t a reflection. It was a living force filling every corner of the room.
This show didn’t just celebrate Comfort In Sound. It reaffirmed its purpose. Feeder offered the music back to the people who needed it, and Birmingham answered with everything it had.
A powerful, human night. One that lingers. 10/10
Feeder have never chased spectacle for its own sake. What they create is something rarer: trust. Their fans give them their full voice because Feeder have earned it, song by song, year by year. The love in that room wasn’t a reflection. It was a living force filling every corner of the room.
This show didn’t just celebrate Comfort In Sound. It reaffirmed its purpose. Feeder offered the music back to the people who needed it, and Birmingham answered with everything it had.
A powerful, human night. One that lingers. 10/10
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