The FEVER 333 // Live Review // The Limelight I // Belfast

It is so cool and hard to believe I’m standing here waiting to see Inglewood’s own Fever 333 in my home town of Belfast, Northern Ireland, I remember reviewing their last offering Wrong Generation in 2020 during such a fucked up time in our lives, the music the message was so relevant and the band and the music made such a valuable impression on me right there and then. The chaos in which we found ourselves and more so for those in the US with the struggles of that time, the Pandemic, Trump and the elections and of course George Floyd and the BLM movement. It is easy to forget such chaos existed in our lives as we move further away from the “new norm” which we experienced under these weird times but an EP such as Wrong Generation is a snapshot in time of just how manic it all was, beautifully portrayed through art and expression in its most visceral form. 

How will this translate to the live stage, I cannot wait to find out. Before the guys make their entrance the strobes fire and a sonic boom pulsate through the speakers grabbing everyone’s attention then BAM 💥 like a fucking whirlwind Fever 333 hit the stage !!! Two tracks back to back they slam the Belfast crowd and midway through the night’s opener as guitarist Stephen Harrison launches himself into the middle of the Limelight floor with the crowd and orchestras a circle pit! The Belfast crowd obliges and hits it hard! 

At the end of track two Jason Aalon Butler takes the time to thank the crowd for coming sayings it’s only their 2nd club show since 2019 and how his priorities have shifted and how gratitude is so important now for the things he has in his life … an important message and a timely reminder for all of us. Made in America is up next and guitarist Stephen sets his guitar down and starts freestyling (dancing) and it doesn’t look out of place up on that stage. 

In an explosive performance track after track seems to fly by as the guys lay down a stunning live show unlike anything I’ve witnessed here before, Jason takes to the floor mixing it up with the Belfast crowd and after stays on the floor to talk to the crowd about the importance of taking something positive from tonight’s experience and paying it forward outside these four walls … always taking the time to interact with the audience and unlike many bands he hit makes them feel apart of the show. 

Aric Improta is animalistic on the drums with a performance which is simply breathtaking, it may be that as a trio they are so much more exposed but Jesus H Christ his performance was a thing of beauty, these guys give so much on stage they must literally feel broken after each and every show … In what may only be their second club show back from a forced hiatus due to the pandemic these guys are absolutely commanding live. Their connection with their audience is unparalleled and the trust to just throw themselves into the mix at every given whim is a sight to see. The night comes to a close with all members on the floor as Jason dismantles Aric’s drumkit and sets him up on the ground in the middle of the club whilst the Belfast massive surround them in astonishment! As Jason has warned “when we stop playing, we stop playing just so ya know!” and so it was as he finished the last song he walked off stage leaving Stephen to bond with the crowd one last time before the lights actually had to come on for real. 

The Fever 333 gave one of the most animalistic and visceral performances I have ever witnessed in this venue, it was an absolute joy to witness and left me absolutely begging for more. With a new UK Tour just announced this very morning you will get your opportunity to catch them live for yourself, I cannot recommend it highly enough! It was Majestic!

Photography: Wayne Donaldson // TWKOM