Jamiroquai

Jamiroquai were at the forefront of the short-lived, London-based funk and acid jazz movement of the 1990s. Now the sole participants still touring, Jamiroquai continue to fill large arenas. Back in April 2011 the band drew thousands of excitable fans to the Phones 4U Manchester arena. The acid funk pioneers have long attracted widespread critical derision. It is indeed true that their work flits between funky jazz grooves and naff disco pop. However, it is also true that Jamiroquai are experts when it comes to working a stadium.
Sporting satisfactorily extravagant headgear, front man, Jay Kay, arrogantly, but infectiously, jumped, skipped and spun around the stage before an eleven-piece band. The whole stadium grooved along to the funky beats of ‘Space Cowboy’ and ‘Travelling Without Moving.’ Jamiroquai also managed to keep the crowd moving equally enthusiastically to their Noughties disco numbers.
Rounding off an energetic encore with ‘White Knuckle Ride’ from their 2010 album, ‘Rock Dust Light Star’, Jamiroquai informed us that they were not simply here to repeat their old favourites. The band’s latest work certainly errs towards the cheesey end of the spectrum. The pop tune constitutes a seemingly insincere contemplation of the pressures of fame. Even Jay Key seems aware of the song’s lack of credibility, pleading for us to believe him with the refrain, ‘I’m serious.’ Nonetheless, ‘White Knuckle Ride’ kept us dancing right to very end of the evening.