Last week I went to see Feeder play their 2002 album Comfort in Sound live in full at Brixton Academy. The jury continues to be out for me on whether album shows ‘work’. I’ve seen quite a few over the past couple of decades, some just don’t convert from record to the stage, that was not the case for this one. I’d place it in my top 3 so far.
The visuals were mesmerising, bringing the iconic album artwork to life and adding new dimensions to it. The decision to play in tracklist order with additional audio connecting from one track to the next tied the whole thing together. The audience being fully invested helped also, there was no distracting chatter during the album’s quieter moments. Hearing big sing-alongs for the deeper cuts was heartwarming to be reminded there’s still an appreciation for these tracks.
My friends and I were only really just getting into Feeder when drummer Jon Lee tragically took his life in January 2002. I remember having a friend based in Liverpool who I spoke to online in the days of chat rooms and MSN messenger. She was a huge fan of the band, distraught at the loss of Jon and determined to travel to his funeral in Newport that thousands of fans did show up to.
Comfort in Sound was written by frontman Grant Nicholas in the mourning of Jon, unclear whether the band would continue on. These weren’t ‘Feeder’ songs per se, but when bassist Taka Hirose returned to the UK after some time in his native Japan, the pair decided to proceed with making a new album.
An understandable departure from the preceding album, 2001’s Echo Park and the Just A Day EP, this selection of songs stood apart from a lot of the music we were listening to circa 2002 / 2003 (mostly upbeat pop punk and ska), but it made the record all the more special. Entering our mid teens and experiencing a range of emotions for the first time, first loves, first losses (my Grandad passed away in October 2003). Comfort in Sound became a soundtrack to the more reflective moments in life.
The album was the band’s commercial peak, but they’ve continued to tour extensively and release new records since (8 as of 2025). I’ve followed them throughout these years and it’s fair to say they are one of my all time favourite bands.
As much as I love Feeder, revisiting Comfort in Sound and seeing some of these older tracks played live again for the first time in decades has reminded me why I love Feeder. It’s not something I can articulate, it’s a feeling in reaction to the music and art, but this past week it was almost as if I could locate it in my chest.
My friend Ed and I both got a bit emotional during the gig, at our own personal favourites from the album. We’d had a few beers beforehand, which weren’t essential for the feelings, though certainly accentuated them, as did the baked in nostalgia. The kids we were in 2002 are long gone and yet we’re still here carrying those memories, just as the songs keep the memory of Jon Lee alive.
Liam Toms 