Music Editor Hannah Gadd attends McFly VS Busted, claiming both bands continue to captivate audiences with their timeless hits
On Tuesday night, Busted and McFly kicked off their immense tour of the UK at BP Pulse Live in Birmingham. Titled Busted VS McFly, the tour is framed as a battle of the bands-esque show, which sees the groups come head-to-head in a showdown of chart hits and crowd-pleasing antics.
Danny Jones, Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter played with effortless charisma and synchronicity, making it clear the band have forged a solid dynamic over the years.
The show began with McFly’s set and the band jumping up through trapdoors with boundless energy as they played the anthemic track ‘Where Did All The Guitars Go?’. Wasting no time, they dove into their massive hit single ‘Star Girl’ which sent a wave of excitement through the audience. Danny Jones, Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter played with effortless charisma and synchronicity, making it clear the band have forged a solid dynamic over the years.
Working their way through their extensive discography, the band played some of their cult-classic tracks including ‘One for the Radio’, ‘Transylvania’ and ‘Room on the 3rd Floor’. They also wove in a few newer tracks, ‘Happiness’ and ‘Red’, which resonated just as strongly and proved the band’s latest material holds its own alongside the classics. As ‘All About You’ rang out near the end of the set, the audience erupted into a passionate sing-along, turning the arena into a sea of nostalgia.
McFly wrapped up the first set with a powerful rendition of ‘The Heart Never Lies’, leaving the stage on high and giving Busted a tough gig to match. The band made a bold entrance onto the boxing-ring-like stage and set the tone for the high-octane set to come with their rowdy track ‘Crashed the Wedding’. Just a day before the show, guitarist James Bourne announced via social media that he was unfortunately too unwell to join his bandmates on tour; in his absence, Matt Willis and Charlie Simpson took a heartfelt moment to send their love to James before welcoming his younger brother, Chris, to the stage to fill in.
Their set was a perfect pop-punk symphony composed of energetic riffs, pounding drums and strong vocals which transported the audience back to the band’s early days.
Their set was a perfect pop-punk symphony composed of energetic riffs, pounding drums and strong vocals which transported the audience back to the band’s early days. From ‘You Said No’ to ‘Loser Kid’ to ‘Thunderbirds Are Go!’, Busted powered through a relentless run of fan favourites, each track met with loud cheers. Finally, they ended their set with the massive track ‘What I Go to School For’ igniting a frenzy amongst fans.
After both bands had given it their all on the stage, McBusted were reunited with an epic drum battle between Harry Judd and Eddy Thrower, showcasing their incredible musicianship. Matt Willis and Dougie Poynter appeared on opposite sides of the venue, within the tiered seating, to perform ‘Hate Your Guts’, a moment which further sparked the bands’ rivalries and encouraged the crowds’ involvement. With each band having one final punch to throw, Busted hit McFly with ‘Air Hostess’ to which the four-piece retaliated with ‘Five Colours in Her Hair’, closing the battle on a high.
… both bands have stood the test of time and continue to captivate audiences with their enduring energy and timeless hits.
Busted VS McFly concluded with an electric performance of ‘Year 3000’, bringing both bands together and leaving fans cheering beneath a cascade of confetti. You may be asking: who won? The show declares no official winner, but what can be said is that both bands have stood the test of time and continue to captivate audiences with their enduring energy and timeless hits. The tour spans until November, and returns to Birmingham on the 28th October, so if you want to cheer on your favourite, buy tickets here!
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