We are living in a post-Hot Chip land, where geeks with keyboards can make a few quid. Contributor Salamander (who loves nothing more than watching hot young men rocking out to an electro-beat , whilst drooling) submitted this review, and it’s up as I thought you would all appreciate some positivity on this site, rather than my usual jaundiced ramblings. I like this review; it made me smile.
Friendly Fires from St Albans were supported by Jape who I had never heard of previously but who I will most definitely be checking out. They opened the night to a packed King Tuts with their catchy electro pop tunes, and got the crowd well in the mood for a bit of bopping.
Friendly Fires came on stage to a thunderous welcome from the crowd who were all clearly in a good mood. They opened with Photobooth and got a rapturous reception then went into Your Love. Towards the end of the song it was clear the fire alarm had gone off and the siren sounding overhead wasn’t a new synth part so the band trooped off stage, clearly disappointed to be cut off in their prime. The fire engines arrived in double quick time, realised it was clearly a false alarm and left again in double quick time so the audience were not left outside for too long before all trooping back in for FF part 2.
If their natural exuberance and energy was a little bit curbed by the break, they tried hard not show it and they launched into Skeleton Boy, followed by White Diamonds – and if anything the crowd were even more enthusiastic this time around, as if wanting to cheer the band back into their infectious energy and enthusiasm for a great show. Front man Ed Macfarlane leapt into the crowd during their next song In The Hospital and spent most of the song singing from within the crowd.
Next up was Jump in the Pool followed hot on its heels by crowd favourite On Board, where all the members of the band congregate round the mikes for the first half of the song before retiring back to their instruments for a second half which can’t help but make you dance and sing along.
And that’s what really sums this band up, they make you want to bop, their songs are infectious and fun and they make great indie pop. The last three songs Strobe, Paris and Ex-lover were despatched with a reception from the crowd as close to adulation as you will ever see in Tuts – their fans clearly LOVE this band.
It was a great gig.
Filed under: General Stuff
