It’s easy to forget the state of the British ‘popular’ music scene at the time that Primal Scream exploded from the underground into wider consciousness with their 1990 hit ‘Loaded’. Acid house acts such as Guru Josh may have been starting to become more mainstream, but the UK Top 20 Chart was still dominated by the likes of Shakin’ Stevens, Cliff Richard, Rod Stewart and Michael Bolton in the week that ‘Loaded’ landed. Its parent album Screamadelica arrived the following year and changed music forever, to the point where it is still nigh-on impossible to review a Primal Scream show or album without referencing it 25 years later. However, unlike other bands of their age, they still remain relevant and keep pushing forward with every release.

Arriving at the Brighton Dome for the penultimate night of their Chaosmosis tour (an album title that Bobby Gillespie himself defined as “wisdom gleaned from madness”), Primal Scream were back in the spiritual home of Screamadelica, ably supported by Japanese band Bo Ningen, a four-piece psychedelic noise-rock group based in London. Unfazed by opening to an unusually empty venue, the band launched into their distinctive and hypnotic show. The sheer noise and incredible power of their music began to reverberate through the whole venue, with a distinct XTRMNTR vibe showing just why they were the ideal support to Primal Scream. Their 30 minute set culminated in a stunning performance by singer Taigen Kawabe, who straddled the crowd barrier with his guitar strap in his teeth as he played frenetically, while his bandmates whirled around the stage in a stunning show, throwing their instruments in the air. By the end of their set, they had not just rapidly filled the arena but had left us all open-mouthed and in rapture at what we had seen.

Led by Gillespie, Primal Scream entered the stage and kicked off the show with ’Movin’ On Up’, instantly transporting the crowd back to the Screamadelica era. What was immediately impressive was how seamlessly they moved between eras and genres, with new track ‘Where The Light Gets In’ feeling like a natural fit between ‘Movin’ On Up’ and the funkier ‘Jailbird’. It is a great sign that not only do the majority of new tracks already feel like classic Primal Scream but, when played live, the vintage songs sound like they were released yesterday. Gillespie prowled the stage in his trademark manner, completely lost in the music and clapping his hands in rhythm. He made little effort to build an early rapport with the crowd, but his obvious love of the music itself completely made up for that. Alongside him, Andrew Innes (guitar) and Simone Butler (bass) packed a mighty punch while Martin Duffy (keys) and Darrin Mooney (drums) remained anonymous behind their kit. Gillespie however, is one of rock’s great iconic frontmen, someone impossible to take your eyes off. The crowd itself were of all ages, reflecting Primal Scream’s long history and continued relevance.

Listening to their albums in order of release can be a schizophrenic experience as each one explores new sounds, but when played live every track seemed to merge cleverly with the next and subtly introduced elements from each genre. The first hour of the set kept the audience on its toes with a constant change of pace and style, as the band kept shifting gear and moving through their vast repertoire. Noise-rock morphed into electropop, synthrock switched into the blues of ‘(I’m Gonna) Cry Myself Blind’ where the crowd gently swayed as Gillespie slowed everything down for the only time that night. The pick-and-mix approach continued throughout the set, and it was fascinating to begin to notice the little threads that spin between each song making them fit together as a set. When they moved between ‘Higher Than The Sun’ and ‘Trippin On Your Love’, there was a real genius evident in how Duffy's use of beats and simple house piano made two songs written a quarter of a century apart seem from the same era.

After being pummelled by ‘Swastika Eyes’, the explosion of joy and deafening volume of cheers accompanying the opening bars to ‘Loaded’ will long be remembered by all who were at the show. In the two hundred-year history of the Brighton Dome, this may very well have been the closest it has come to collapse as the entire crowd danced and jumped. The floor of the balcony level was certainly tested as this timeless classic received an incredible reaction, nearly matched when Gillespie stated that he needed “a hand with this one” before blasting through ‘Country Girl’. With an incredible amount of love in the room, the band then left the stage for a short break, during which the cries and stamping of feet remained relentless. Upon their return, we were all transported back to 1991 with a stunning and suitably lengthy version of ‘Come Together’ which seemed to encapsulate every single Primal Scream style and genre into one track. Finally we were left with ‘Rocks’, and one more mighty singalong before the end of the night. Gillespie was visibly euphoric and thankful as he and the band left the stage after a truly stunning 90 minute set. He may not be getting loaded any more, but he sure was having a good time.