The Prodigy review: Still abrasive, they aren’t slowing down

Times may have changed since The Prodigy’s heyday of the mid-to-late 90s, but their bangers still hit as hard as ever.

The Prodigy played the Adelaide Entertaiment Centre on Saturday.

Times may have changed since The Prodigy’s heyday of the mid to late 90s, but their bangers still hit as hard as ever.

Far from PC by today’s standards, Smack My B***h Up, from their seminal dance record The Fat Of The Land of 1997, lit up an otherwise solid live show from the Essex ensemble on Saturday night.

Until then, the gig had been everything you’d expect from the high-energy group — a Prodigy show is always an assault on the senses — but the tune lifts the set into the realm of spectacular.

The Adelaide Entertainment Centre crowd — a sweaty collection of plus-30 ravers — partied like it was the final days of 1999 all over again.

The Prodigy @ Adelaide pic.twitter.com/lqPoECdrPV

— Baroness Barbara (@barbwodecki) January 26, 2019

Feeling like a reunion of Adelaide’s old-school rave community — Doc Martens were in abundance too — The Prodigy kicked things off with Breathe.

Another balltearer of an anthem from the 90s, scores of phones are held aloft to capture the moment; another sign of how times have changed in 20 years.

You once caught the Prodigy buzz through word of mouth; now punters post live updates on social media.

“It looks like Adelaide is the place to be,” MC Maxim thunders, who lords over the set with sheer physical presence and Prodigy-style menace.

Still as abrasive and intimidating as ever, it’s easy to forget the engine room of Keith Flint and Liam Howlett are fast approaching their 50s.

The biggest roar comes for Everybody In The Place (26 years old if you can believe it) and Voodoo People, although Firestarter feels a little lacklustre.

The new stuff isn’t lapped up quite like the old stuff, and the reception from punters after the gig is mixed.

“I saw them 20 years ago,” one seasoned fan tells this reporter at music haunt The Gov across the road.

“It was the same energy, and they’re still fiercely intimating. I’m 44 and I felt 21 tonight.”

Another is sore that Poison wasn’t played.

“It’s like the Rolling Stones not playing Paint It Black,” Rob says.

“Tonight felt like a reunion for the old-school Adelaide dance community, although some of don’t party as hard as we used to (laughs).”

They might not be the industry leaders they once were, but The Prodigy are showing no signs of slowing down in middle age.