McFly's Young Dumb Thrills Tour 2021: A Photographer's Review

“Just f***king enjoy life!” That’s what Danny Jones said the night of his first show back with McFly on the rescheduled Young Dumb Thrills Tour, 14th September 2021. Granted it was inspired by a spoonful of luxury chocolate mousse served backstage at the Brighton Centre, the venue for that night, but he did say that the Brighton Centre audience was “on par”.

I have to say I have never been so pleased to be compared to a dessert, especially one that warranted such a reaction, but the feeling was mutual. After all, what is the return of live music and our favourite naughties boyband if not an opening to enjoy life in a way that the coronavirus pandemic had made unforeseeable.

Standing close to anyone, seeing anyones face without the distraction of a face covering was miraculous, let alone being as close as I was to Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones, lips spread wide singing the inspired lyrics of perhaps their best album yet.

Of course, covid precautions were taken into account and everyone allowed into the venue was either double-vaccinated or tested negatively ahead of entry, feeling safe and therefore able to enjoy it all the more.

Even the music playing through the speakers as audience members slowly crowded the standing floor suggested an insight into the minds of these four best friends as rock and roll influences became obviously apparent.

This show, as an experience, convinced me of the superiority of standing concerts in intimate venues. Chinchilla officially opened the night a little differently. Her vibe was immediately set apart from the moment she graced the stage in pristine white platform heels and an ensemble of head to toe flowing red material completed with the hat that graced her head and the jewels and ruffles that fell around her neck.

Her short set flowed with an effortless groove and facial expressions that told the audience to expect individuality, fun and rhythm. Even through the inclusion of the rock classic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, Chinchilla used the iconic fame to surprise us with the unique edge of her effortless vocals and higher register.

Overall, a set filled with strong bass and beat laid a strong foundation, leaving you feeling truly hyped for the rest of the show. Put simply, Chinchilla understood the assignment.

The audience hovered in this feeling a little longer and anticipation built as out of the corner of our eyes, the screens on the side of the stage flickered, preparing to come to life.

In what can only be described as a magical moment, the black curtain fell and, with a swift flourish, disappeared. Star Girl began to play and those boys pulled off the greatest magic trick of all, they created life. From that moment and for the duration of the show, the audience erupted into music and screams and you can’t deny that it was as if they had never left and just seconds before there had not been quiet and black.

A certain level of extra excitement was added by the fact that not only was this the first night of tour, it was also the first day of Fletcher’s Strictly Come Dancing training and the day before we all found out who he would be dancing with. Voices called from the crowd pleading him to reveal the news early but to no luck.

The next couple of hours were filled with a perfected blend of Young Dumb Thrills and their previous albums, with Red being a definite highlight. The deep red lighting, classic handheld mic on a glowing red wire and, most of all, Danny’s stellar rockstar presence and vocals creating an altogether different world for that song. I felt a certain pride of being one of the

audience members that knew the lyrics

from Young Dumb Thrills and The Lost Songs.

Time flys. Blink, you’re walking by Brighton beach the next day, slowing your pace ever so slightly as you watch what you are pretty certain is the bands tour bus, educated by an analysis of the view from Danny Jones’ hotel window in his recent Instagram story post. Blink, you’re on the train home, a plastic wallet of red and yellow star-shaped confetti, your first ever tour t-shirt in your bag and a Young Dumb Thrills badge pinned to your jacket, listening to the album, almost moved to tears at how lucky you were to be there.