The Wanted – The Code Tour

I’ve never known so many support acts for one show – two and a half hours worth to be precise, and all the teen girls at the Brighton Centre just wanted one thing (or five). The support was vast and varied, using The Wanted tour as a stepping stone to stardom.

Girl band Fanfair were a hit with the younger crowd with their matching mini-dresses and precise dance routines. As they settled into their set, their confidence increased; a bit of attitude, Girls Aloud style, was visible and tracks were reminscent of girl bands Mis-Teeq and Atomic Kitten.

Final support act Ben Montague played his own instruments, and again seemed to improve as he settled into his set with his catchy, Ricky Martin soundtrack gearing up the crowd for The Wanted.

And boy, were we ready. The Code tour even came with a ‘film’ on the big screen played at the start and as intervals. The synopsis? The Wanted have 90 minutes (the length of their show) to break the code. The countdown clock from my favourite TV show ’24’ heightened the action, although the action itself unveiled as more EastEnders than Hollywood action drama. The Wanted’s music more than made up for this. From acoustic love songs – playing their own instruments (kudos guys) to a Coldplay medley, The Wanted prove they have the capability of a grown-up, mature sound, which is why I loved them too.

But for the teens they are heartthrobs, and so much of their performance plays up to this fact. ‘Say It On The Radio’, a track from their first album I had never heard, was a highlight, while ‘All Time Low’ and ‘Glad You Came’ had the crowd jumping with fantastic energy. These guys have the potential to be around a very long time, and after seeing them live, I’m hoping they will be. Hats off to their great band too; ‘Warzone’ has never sounded so good.

Brighton Centre, 20 February 2012

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