The Prodigy is set to shock and disturb

  • 2005-06-01
  • By Milda Seputyte

VILNIUS - After a long silence, The Prodigy is back on tour, so you'd better wake up. The British band, known to indulge in theatrically extravagant performances, has decided to set their only Baltic show in Vilnius. And the citizens are grateful.

In their concert on June 21, the group will perform music from their latest album, "Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned," released seven years after their last massively popular disk, "The Fat of the Land." For fans, the painful seven-year Prodigy absence has brought some disappointment 's the band's latest album is admittedly the weakest of all four. Yet testimony to their talent, the album is still considered one of the best of 2004, and was nominated for Best Dance and Electronic at this year's Grammy awards.

Fronted by a man with numerous piercings and spiky hair, the Prodigy plays an aggressive, energetic, rock-techno hybrid that wouldn't be described as easy on the ears.

With their distinctive and marketable identities, the group hit the worldwide musical market with one of the most abrasive, inventive, eclectic, and bloody-minded albums that parents could fear 's "The Fat of the Land." Oddly, the Prodigy soon became a dance band, appealing to people who hated to dance.

Howlett, a classically trained piano player, is the group's sole musician. The other members were recruited mostly as dancers to spice up live shows. Howlett's first release in 1990 became a major influence on Britain's fledging rave scene. Later that year, Howlett met two other fellows, Keith Flint and Leeroy Thornhill, and the trio former a new band called the Prodigy.

In 1994 and 1995, the Prodigy spent much time touring around the world with their splashy appearances, proving that electronic music could make it in a live venue. In 1996, the band released their single "Firestarter," which entered the British charts at number one and made a quick hit worldwide.

Howlett's two back-up players weren't to be found on "Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned," although they joined his worldwide tour to support the album launched in 2004.

As always, The Prodigy is determined to provoke and disturb their way through Vilnius. Mothers will be praying their children don't come home with a new piercing, while teenagers will be ecstatic with excitement. As for everyone in between, the band's dark and unyielding temper will be hard to resist.

The Prodigy

June 21

Siemens Arena

Tickets: 80-150 litas

(23-43euros)

www.tiketa.lt