Underworld Overview
Underworld from the UK are Electronic Dance Music (EDM) giants. Their identity came to be after brief stints as The Screen Gemz, followed by “Freur,” which yielded the ‘83 hit, “Doot-Doot.” While the band hadn’t yet reached their full potential, it’s worth knowing that the founders of Underworld played a role in the British Invasion music phenomenon during the 80s, when New Wave/Modern Rock music swept US radio station airwaves, starting with WLIR in Long Island, N.Y. (see the 2017 documentary: Dare to be Different). Radio stations around the country then followed WLIR’s lead and stations like the world famous KROQ-L.A., KITS-SF (Live 105), and 91X-San Diego became music sensations for introducing American listeners to music artists from overseas.
Underworld’s rise to fame began in ‘92 in the UK and Europe. Their ‘94 album, “dubnobasswithmyheadman,” earned them international praise and recognition in electronic music. By ‘96, when the indie film, “Trainspotting,” featuring the single, “Born Slippy .Nuxx,” was released with the film soundtrack, the single’s popularity prompted the re-release of their ‘96 album, “Second Toughest in the Infants,” with “Born Slippy .Nuxx,” included.
The band’s groundbreaking performances that helped drive Underworld’s popularity in the US happened during two historic music festivals; the ‘96 Organic Music Festival in San Bernardino and the first Coachella in 1999.
Underworld Review
The last time I visited San Francisco’s century-old Warfield Theatre was in ‘98 when Bjork performed. On 21 April 2023, Underworld was the headliner, after a three-year delay brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was a mixed crowd, covering a broad age range, from 20 something to 60 something; speaking volumes about the band’s longevity. Their fan base generated over 30+ years is a spirited tribe; devout Electronic Dance Music (EDM) extroverts, enduring as the music artists themselves, and they love to dance. “Trainspotting” tee shirt guy and gold swimsuit girl with a clear plastic cover-up were among the stand-outs.
Sold out by appearances, or close to it, reserved seating in the balcony offered an impressive overview of the stage. But the general admission area on the main floor was preferable for those eager to dance.
When the house lights dimmed, crowd hollers ensued as Welsh composer/keyboardist Rick Smith and English vocalist/lyricist Karl Hyde entered from stage right. Light pulsing rhythms and strobe lights instantly morphed the classic theater setting into what was reminiscent of the early 90s dance club scene.
The Warfield performance Setlist featured tracks from ‘93 – 2002, along with three 2023 debuts mixed-in. Links to lyrics, courtesy of Lyrics.com, MusixMatch.com, LyricFind.com, and YouTube: @UnderworldFan94.
- “Gene Pool,” (debut) – Well received. Lyrics yet to be posted. Listen via link courtesy of @UnderworldFan94.
- “Juanita,” from the ‘96 album, “Second Toughest in the Infants.” Slow building. Surreal. Lyrics: “Your thin paper wings.”
- “Two Months Off,” from the 2002 album, “One Hundred Days Off.” Beautiful chaos. Essential positivity. Lyrics: “You bring light in.”
- “Push Upstairs,” from the ‘99 album, “Beaucoup Fish.” Intoxicating. Lyrics: “And these are my intensions.”
- “Mmm… Skyscraper, I love you,” from the ‘94 album, “dubnobasswithmyheadman,” was inspired by the New York City landscape.
- “Denver Luna,” (debut) – Hypnotic. Lyrics yet to be posted. Listen to track three via link courtesy of @UnderworldFan94.
- “Jumbo,” from the ‘99 album, “Beaucoup Fish.” Downtempo. Uplifting. Light synth beats. Lyrics: “I get thoughts about you.”
- “Dark and Long/Dark Train,” from the ‘94 album, “dubnobasswithmyheadman.” Lyrics: “Ride the Train.”
- “Shudder/King of Snake,” from the ‘99 album, “Beaucoup Fish.” Essential Underworld. Lyrics: “Twenty four hours with the king of snake.”
- “Rez/Cowgirl,” “Rez,” was a single used in Cameron Crowe’s ‘93 film, “Vanilla Sky;” “Cowgirl,” was the b-side track, then added to the ‘94 album, “dubnobasswithmyheadman.” Lyrics: “And a razor of love.”
- “And the Colour Red,” (debut) – Released in early April 2023. Steady beats with repeated robo-like vocals lure you in. Lyrics and video posted on link.
- “Born Slippy .Nuxx” – The ‘96 single from the “Trainspotting” film soundtrack. Intensely fast, four-to-the-floor rhythm. The synthesizer heavy track was never intended to become a drinking anthem. The dark lyrics derive from the world view of an alcoholic. Lyrics: “She smiled at you boy.”
Absent from The Warfield performance setlist were tracks from albums after 2002. Not a single track was played from, “Oblivion With Bells,” from 2007; “Barking,” from 2010; “Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future,” from 2016; or “Drift” from 2018. The show, however, did not suffer without selections from those albums. I suspect their meticulously chosen setlist was based on what the band felt fans would want to hear most after a seven year wait between US tours. They do know their audience. And they chose their music wisely.
No encore that night, but the crowd was beat. These shows are exhaustive, but they’re the best form of cardio, therapy, and entertainment around. Underworld frontman, Karl Hyde on vocals, now 65 years young, and certainly doesn’t look-it, has infectious energy that enlivens all who surround him for the duration. Counting the days now until next time.
Announcement
Underworld is returning to California for two more shows this Fall; at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on 28 September 2023 and the San Francisco Portola Festival on 30 September 2023.
Underworld Retrospective
While living in San Diego – in 2007, I learned Underworld performed at the Hollywood Bowl and I hadn’t heard a word until afterward. My disappointment ran deep. I blamed local radio because San Diego had two prominent radio stations serving as primary music news sources – the Alternative 91X and Free Form FM 94.9. SoCal concerts were promoted in San Diego all the time, and it was a very big deal that such an influential band was performing at one of L.A.’s major venues.
I grew up in San Francisco listening to The Quake in the 80s, followed by the Modern Rock/Alternative radio station Live 105/KITS, who introduced me to the music of Underworld, and so many other bands still close to my heart including Depeche Mode, New Order, the Cure, the Smiths, Roxy Music, Bjork, Siouxsie and the Banshees, PIL, The Prodigy, Faithless, Moby, The Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk, Nitzer Ebb, Kraftwerk, and Nine Inch Nails.
Missing Underworld’s 2007 performance in L.A. motivated me to seek new methods for staying informed about upcoming concerts. My first source was Underworld’s official website. I subscribed to their e-news and visited their site periodically. This is how I learned Underworld was performing in August 2008 at the All Points West Festival in Jersey City. Given there was no telling how soon Underworld would return to the states, I had to attend. And it was no small feat.
Seeing Underworld live for the first time, amidst the New York City skyline and Statue of Liberty, verged on cathartic. But the setlist was short, which is typical of music festivals. 10 songs were performed, barely whetting my appetite. The last track of the show was the adrenaline pumping, “Moaner,” from the ‘97, “Batman & Robin,” film soundtrack. I was in my element.
By 2009, I started using Social Media for music news updates. Oddly enough, this is how I learned Underworld would perform at Oakland’s Fox Theater. Discovering they would appear in California, one year after flying across the country to see them, blew my mind. How could I miss them in my own home state? I had to go. So off I went – from San Diego, to see Underworld in Oakland. The setlist featured 16 songs with “Moaner,” closing the show.
In 2010, the strangest thing happened; I could swear Underworld was following me. Ridiculous, I know. But after seeing them two years in a row, then suddenly they were headed to the city where I lived, to perform at the former venue 4th and B in San Diego, it was crazy. Strange coincidence? Perhaps. But I don’t believe in coincidences. During the performance, there was one quiet moment before the second to last song that I recall clearly. Vocalist Karl Hyde was crouched over in a stationary pose, about to sing, “Dirty Epic.” As he stood there still during this quiet moment between songs, I unleashed a loud, “Woo!” Another person wooed back. Back and forth we continued, until a priceless moment – Hyde smiled. That night, the night I “wooed” Karl Hyde, was a special gift; makes me smile every time. 14 songs were performed that evening, with “Moaner,” closing the show.
I saw Underworld for the fourth time in 2016 at the Fox Theater in Oakland. I had already moved back to the Bay Area by then. 19 songs were performed that evening; a record long show, ending with the bands ever popular, “Born Slippy .Nuxx.”
Underworld’s recent show at The Warfield on the 21 April 2023, was my fifth live performance. I understand many shows are improvised so no show is ever the same. 12 songs were performed that night. The most memorable moment for me personally was seeing, “Mmm…. Skyscraper, I love you,” performed live for the first time. There was something incredibly special about hearing this song in this historic venue within my hometown. It was perfect. It was everything. The last song of the evening was of course, “Born Slippy .Nuxx.” I danced, indeed.
With the internet available to find out just about anything these days, I recently discovered the site Underworld Gigography, which lists all of Underworld’s shows through 2016. A fantastic source of course, yet I am now heartbroken to learn of several more chances I had to see Underworld in years past. If only to go back in time to see them at The Warfield in 1999 and 2002, and The Fillmore in 1996 and 2003. Somehow I’ll get over it. Another show will help. I’ve never seen Underworld perform in L.A. There’s my justification. See you at The Shrine in late September!
The MiNAPRESS Column 
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