It’s always good to see a talented local artist headlining a show, especially one as exciting and dynamic as Fdel. It’s not so good to see a decidedly under-capacity crowd at such a gig. It’s always good to see someone like Fdel do a live show with a stage full of musicians. It’s not so good when it involves a decidedly mediocre MC who insists on shouting out trite nothings to the crowd in a strangely English accent at every possible opportunity.

So it was at the Rosemount on Friday May 18, when the Fdel Live Experience rolled into town, fresh from a couple of performances down in the south of the State. I have to admit that I was very keen to see just what the Fdel Live Experience was all about, having been a huge fan of Fdel’s much-applauded 2005 album, ‘Audiofdelity’.

As the band took to the stage just after 11.30pm, there was much to be hoped for – a six piece line-up featuring Downsyde’s DJ Armee on decks and Fdel controlling the loops and samples, plus a drummer, a percussionist, a guitarist and one very forgettable MC. The band wasted no time getting down to business as it charged through some of the classics from ‘Audiofdelity’, including ‘Get Up On Your Feat’ and ‘Let The Beat Kick Back’, interspersed with some newer tunes such as ‘The Ace’.

With the understanding between Armee and Fdel fully evident and the live percussion adding a great touch to the tunes, the Fdel Live Experience managed to create a good sound, which was fully appreciated by the small but boisterous crowd. ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’, in particular, was a standout track. The only real problem with the set was that it could have been so much better. The MC’s main job seemed to consist of unexciting rapping over tunes that already had vocals in them, courtesy of Fdel’s samples, whilst the guitarist seemed lacklustre and inhibited on funk-filled tracks that cried out for some searing guitar solos.

All in all, a good but by no means great performance. Fdel has set the standard with the quality of his production. It is now time to meet that standard in terms of his live performances.