Tricky - Academy, Manchester, 18/2/2009
by Aaron Brown
published: 19 / 2 / 2009

intro
Always controversial, Aaron Brown finds that Bristol trip hopper has lost none of his ability for confrontation and getting on the wrong side of authority at a gig at the Manchester Academy
Tricky, being one of those more controversial artists around, doesn’t seem to care if he doesn’t make any friends. Somehow managing to get on the wrong side of Gary Oldman during the making of 'The Fifth Element' for "eating a facking sandwich" during the filming of his scene, he has got on the wrong side of the Manchester Academy’s door staff also, which is not a hard task. Tricky throwing a strop for being told to stop smoking on stage is a sight to behold, and brings me to quote Jim Carrey in 'Liar, Liar': “Stop breaking the law asshole”. The audience don’t care, however, as they are here to see one of best music artists around. Taking the stage to new track 'Past Mistake', Tricky spends the song smoking away with his back turned to the audience, and annoying the ‘security personnel' in the process. Promoting his excellent new album, the autobiographical, 'Knowle West Boy', Tricky is certainly ‘smoking’ hot to excuse the pun. Welcomed classics such as 'Christiansands', the old school hip-hop delight of 'Tricky Kid' and a reworking of Public Enemy’s 'Black Steel' sound as fresh as ever. New tracks 'Council Estate' and 'Veronika' have more of an alternative rock orientated feel to them and are powerful stuff. Here is an artist that even in his 41st year is still offering something new, not afraid to experiment and not afraid to show his rock/hip-hop orientated influences. Leaving this gig tonight, I cannot help but think Tricky is quite the moody bugger. Smoking is bad for you, Tricky.
Picture Gallery:-


live reviews |
Barbican, London, 6/10/2008 |
![]() |
Sarah Maybank finds Tricky's fire and brimstone trip hop spellbinding at his first London show in five years at the Barbican |
features |
Tricky (2009) |
![]() |
In his 'This Metal Sky' column, Jeff Thiessen reflects upon the career of Tricky, and his three albums, 'Maxinquaye', 'Pre-Millennium Tension' and 'Angels with Dirty Faces' |
reviews |
Tricky Meets South Rakkas Crew (2009) |
![]() |
Sublime reworking of trip hop star Tricky's 2008 album 'Knowle West Boy' by American production duo South Rakkas Crew into upbeat dance numbers |
Knowle West Boy (2008) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Spear Of Destiny - InterviewRobert Forster - Interview
Fiona Hutchings - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Chris Wade - Interview
Pistol Daisys - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Credits - ARC, Liverpool, 17/5.2025
Gary Numan - Berserker
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPBoomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Barrie Barlow - Interview
Manic Street Preachers - (Gig of a Lifetime) Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, December 1999
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Pixies - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
David Paton - Magic: The David Paton Story
Chuck Prophet - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
most viewed reviews
current edition
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a CircleGarbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Vinny Peculiar - Things Too Long Left Unsaid
Little Simz - Lotus
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
HAIM - I Quit
Morcheeba - Escape The Chaos
Vultures - Liz Kershaw Session 16.06.88
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart