News of the sweatbox tour in November and December that Foals had announced spread quickly through fans, and soon people were sat at their computers waiting to get tickets for any show they could. The venues sold out within minutes. Many people were left disappointed. But for those lucky few they knew they were in for a treat.
Foals are renowned for putting on spectacular live shows and since they started off doing house parties in Oxford, small venues are what they are all about. The West End Center in Aldershot is a typical, small local arts center, the staff were a very friendly crowd. We turned up and waited outside the doors of a tiny room, 200 or so capacity, listening to the sounds of Trophy Wife doing a last minute sound check.
The doors opened. There was a weird feeling as people casually wandered into the room; no shoving or pushing to get to the front but a chilled atmosphere that I think only small venues can achieve. At the same time pure excitement. Trophy Wife soon came on and the initial sound was good, but after a couple of songs, it started to sound a bit samey, although I look forward to any future work of theirs. As the time that Foals were meant to come on drew closer; the tension was built by a low bass line playing on the speakers and the lights dimming. As soon as the band walked on, everyone was quiet. They started to play. First up, ‘Pavlov’, their new song . They kicked off calmly and as it was my first time seeing them live, the intensity of both Jimmy and Yannis was crazy. You could see they loved it.
‘Pavlov’ soon ended and they played ‘Miami’ . Everyone started dancing to the funky sound of Yannis’ guitar playing, and we were loving every second. Next came ‘Blue Blood’ which prompted a sing-a-long from every single person of the 200 crowd, and the sweet sound of Walter’s bass got everyone moving.Then it was back to their first album with ‘Olympic Airways’ and ‘Balloons’ which told me that everyone in the venue knew Foals’ older stuff, and it was clear that these people were true fans. Yannis now started taunting the people at the front by pushing himself up against the barrier with people reaching up to him, wanting to get a touch of the man who has reached a god like status for fans!
Next came one of my favourite songs from Total Life Forever, which was… Total Life Forever. In with a heavy start, Yannis left the stage and started to walk through the crowd with his guitar. It wasn’t long before he stood upon the massive amp at the side of the stage, with his guitar, staring at the scaffolding above. Maybe it seemed a little bit TOO crazy, even for him, to attempt to climb up. He jumped off and joined his band members. The others were getting into the show more and more. Jimmy, managed to fall off the stage - twice - by pushing the monitor he was leaning on off the stage. He was saved, by the audience; picked up and pushed back on stage. Another new one then which was called ‘Providence’ on the set list (I think has been called ‘Cleaver’ since). Yannis’ voice rang out through the walls of the tiny venue along with an old school, heavy rocky riff but soon joined by the classic Foals funky melody. The band seemed to love playing their new stuff to the crowd, maybe due to the other songs being played a lot over the years. It gave them something new to go crazy to.
Then the classic ‘Spanish Sahara’ which brought the tempo down slightly and gave everyone a chance to catch their breath. But not for long. ‘Electric Bloom’ came next. Both Yannis and Jimmy ended up on massive speakers, Jimmy playing guitar with a fake owl and Yannis beating the amp with his drumsticks. Next things I knew, Yannis was crowdsurfing.
The encore was incredible. Probably the best encore I have seen. ‘Inhaler’ was played first which got some kids in the audience to form a mosh pit and go mental with Jimmy going crazy on stage. They finished off with the legendary ‘Two Steps Twice’. Yannis, yet again, walked into the audience, this time with his guitar and wandered to the back of the room. He stood next to a bouncer and played, staring dead ahead. A circle formed around him. The song built up and up. It reached its peak, a bittersweet peak as you knew it was now ending.
I came away from the gig feeling like I had seen something specia. It was topped off by meeting Jack and Tinhead, the band’s artist who drew a wicked design on my sweater (which you can see on his wall on Facebook) and getting Yannis’ signature on my Metropolis Sessions 12’ record.
However, the usual post-gig come down I feel was stronger this time, and it only made me want to see them again. Luckily, I am. Next March at the Albert Hall in London, which I know will be amazing. It wont be the same. The Albert Hall is massive. I’m completely hyped for it, and I am incredibly excited for Holy Fire’s release. Cant wait.
Follow / [FACEBOOK]
Other / [OFFICAL SITE]
Tickets / Foals @ Royal Albert Hall (Mid-day show)
Foals are renowned for putting on spectacular live shows and since they started off doing house parties in Oxford, small venues are what they are all about. The West End Center in Aldershot is a typical, small local arts center, the staff were a very friendly crowd. We turned up and waited outside the doors of a tiny room, 200 or so capacity, listening to the sounds of Trophy Wife doing a last minute sound check.
The doors opened. There was a weird feeling as people casually wandered into the room; no shoving or pushing to get to the front but a chilled atmosphere that I think only small venues can achieve. At the same time pure excitement. Trophy Wife soon came on and the initial sound was good, but after a couple of songs, it started to sound a bit samey, although I look forward to any future work of theirs. As the time that Foals were meant to come on drew closer; the tension was built by a low bass line playing on the speakers and the lights dimming. As soon as the band walked on, everyone was quiet. They started to play. First up, ‘Pavlov’, their new song . They kicked off calmly and as it was my first time seeing them live, the intensity of both Jimmy and Yannis was crazy. You could see they loved it.
‘Pavlov’ soon ended and they played ‘Miami’ . Everyone started dancing to the funky sound of Yannis’ guitar playing, and we were loving every second. Next came ‘Blue Blood’ which prompted a sing-a-long from every single person of the 200 crowd, and the sweet sound of Walter’s bass got everyone moving.Then it was back to their first album with ‘Olympic Airways’ and ‘Balloons’ which told me that everyone in the venue knew Foals’ older stuff, and it was clear that these people were true fans. Yannis now started taunting the people at the front by pushing himself up against the barrier with people reaching up to him, wanting to get a touch of the man who has reached a god like status for fans!
Next came one of my favourite songs from Total Life Forever, which was… Total Life Forever. In with a heavy start, Yannis left the stage and started to walk through the crowd with his guitar. It wasn’t long before he stood upon the massive amp at the side of the stage, with his guitar, staring at the scaffolding above. Maybe it seemed a little bit TOO crazy, even for him, to attempt to climb up. He jumped off and joined his band members. The others were getting into the show more and more. Jimmy, managed to fall off the stage - twice - by pushing the monitor he was leaning on off the stage. He was saved, by the audience; picked up and pushed back on stage. Another new one then which was called ‘Providence’ on the set list (I think has been called ‘Cleaver’ since). Yannis’ voice rang out through the walls of the tiny venue along with an old school, heavy rocky riff but soon joined by the classic Foals funky melody. The band seemed to love playing their new stuff to the crowd, maybe due to the other songs being played a lot over the years. It gave them something new to go crazy to.
Then the classic ‘Spanish Sahara’ which brought the tempo down slightly and gave everyone a chance to catch their breath. But not for long. ‘Electric Bloom’ came next. Both Yannis and Jimmy ended up on massive speakers, Jimmy playing guitar with a fake owl and Yannis beating the amp with his drumsticks. Next things I knew, Yannis was crowdsurfing.
The encore was incredible. Probably the best encore I have seen. ‘Inhaler’ was played first which got some kids in the audience to form a mosh pit and go mental with Jimmy going crazy on stage. They finished off with the legendary ‘Two Steps Twice’. Yannis, yet again, walked into the audience, this time with his guitar and wandered to the back of the room. He stood next to a bouncer and played, staring dead ahead. A circle formed around him. The song built up and up. It reached its peak, a bittersweet peak as you knew it was now ending.
I came away from the gig feeling like I had seen something specia. It was topped off by meeting Jack and Tinhead, the band’s artist who drew a wicked design on my sweater (which you can see on his wall on Facebook) and getting Yannis’ signature on my Metropolis Sessions 12’ record.
However, the usual post-gig come down I feel was stronger this time, and it only made me want to see them again. Luckily, I am. Next March at the Albert Hall in London, which I know will be amazing. It wont be the same. The Albert Hall is massive. I’m completely hyped for it, and I am incredibly excited for Holy Fire’s release. Cant wait.
Follow / [FACEBOOK]
Other / [OFFICAL SITE]
Tickets / Foals @ Royal Albert Hall (Mid-day show)
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