Brum Shots

McFly and Busted. Those two names have been synonymous with one another for over two decades. But through their friendships, rivalries and even a supergroup, one question has always lingered.

Which band is better?

This simple question has divided the fan bases and torn families apart (maybe), but this tour will hopefully answer the questions once and for all.

The tension rises before either band even sets foot on stage with the screens displaying the highlights of both band’s careers – their combined plethora of number 1 singles, Busted’s heart-wrenching break-up, the McBusted era and more!

McFly are first to step up and present their bid for the better band. Literally launching themselves on stage, they start their 50 minute set with ‘Where Did All The Guitars Go?,’ a song questioning the decline in guitar-based music on the radio that was so responsible for their success.

Their opening song is one of only two in their set released since their 2008 album Radio:ACTIVE, with the rest of the set revisiting their earlier years with a greatest hits set. Feel good tracks ‘Star Girl’ and ‘That Girl’ remain as infectiously cheerful as they did upon their releases, but Obviously remains the loudest sing-along moment of their set.

McFly seem to have used their years on stage wisely, crafting entertaining and flawlessly executed live performances. Their voices sound indistinguishable from their 17-year-old selves on the first album, but their musicianship and showmanship comes across as effortless. Their least memorable tracks, like ‘Room On The 3rd Floor’ become arena-worthy anthems, and the line ‘it’s not always easy, but McFly’s here forever’ in ‘The Heart Never Lies’ leaves barely a dry eye in the house. 

A high bar has been set for Busted, but they appear on stage ready to accept the challenge. They kick their set off with ‘Crash The Wedding’ and readily launch into some of their most well-known tracks including comeback single ‘Meet You There,’ ‘You Said No’ and ‘Who’s David.’

Despite performing one man down (guitarist and vocalist James Bourne has not participated in this tour due to illness), Charlie Simpson and Matt Willis put in the energy of far more than two people. The audience do their part too, taking over vocals for Charlie’s verse of ‘Sleeping With The Lights On’ and recalling every lyric from 23-year-old songs with complete accuracy.

‘Okay Birmingham, this is where the real show begins – thank you to McFlurry for being our warm up act’ Matt tells the crowd! Busted’s career may not have been as consistent as McFly’s, but there’s no denying that their music has stood the test of time. By the time we reach ‘Thunderbirds Are Go’ and debut single ‘What I Go To School For’ at the end of their set, it’s close to impossible to guess which band is in the lead so far. On to the head to head…

It’s time for a drum off between Harry Judd and Busted’s touring drummer Eddy Thrower, a couple of acoustic songs from Danny Jones and Charlie Simpson and a rendition of McBusted’s ‘Hate Your Guts’ (that gets a little too personal) that Dougie Poynter and Matt Willis perform in the midst of the seated fans. But then, in some kind of reconciliation, the two bands come together for their final three songs, finishing with Busted’s ‘Year 3000.’

There’s no winner or loser announced, but no one seems to worry about it. Both bands have proved that they still have the love from their fans, and the nostalgia to keep going for another few decades at least!