So I lost my Foals virginity last Sunday night and let me tell you, it felt fucking amazing. Naïve to the crazed fans lined up Enmore Road an hour before the gig began, I realised I had underestimated the magnetism Foals exude, especially for a Sunday night. Work seemed to be the furthest thing from the crowds mind, although Monday morning would have seen many wishing they hadn’t had that last drink or continued on to the Soda Factory after party featuring a Foals DJ set.
Melbourne indie electro pop band Alpine kicked off the show with an explosive entrance. From the very first song, lead ladies Phoebe Baker and Lou James had the crowd jumping and clutching at their feet. It was like watching a pixie on speed and a head banging seductress. It was an interesting mix; both girls are clearly very different from each other yet it seems to work. Their heavily reverberated harmonies floated around the room, whilst simplistic rhythms accentuated the main melodies.
The sextet played crowd favourites ‘Hands’ and ‘Villages’ along with other songs from their A Is For Alpine album. It started to get a little repetitive as the set progressed which was clear on guitarist Christian O’Brian’s face during the four-minute guitar riff throughout ‘Villages’. The lull didn’t last long though as the crowd picked up when O’Brian began popular summery hit ‘Gasoline’ to finish off the set. Getting ready to embark on an US tour with Empire Of The Sun, I think it’s safe to say we’ll see Alpine concurring new heights.
It was time for the Foals and the crowd was getting antsy, cheering at stage technicians with the hope that one of them might miraculously turn into a Foal. Finally the lights started to spray across the theatre like lasers whilst what sounded like a trance electro mix of Tron pierced through the speakers. Lanky guitarist Jimmy Smith appears picks up his guitar and starts playing ‘Prelude’ from current album Holy Fire. The others casually follow shortly behind, all dressed in plain T-shirts and singlets ready for an adrenaline filled show.
Keeping in mind that this was the first Foals gig I had attended or even witnessed, when a death pit formed only two songs in I was a bit confused. Never did I expect what is normally confined to a heavier genre to break out in a Foals mosh. But it happened during ‘Total Life Forever’, one of the only songs played from their second album.
Yannis Philippakas hints at the next song in his thick British accent, winning over most girls and I’m fairly sure some guys hearts. ‘My Number’ started and the whole atmosphere erupted, as hundreds of bodies moved simultaneously to the beat. Incredibly skilled and charismatic drummer, Jack Bevan, didn’t leave any tricks at home, with arms flying in every direction at amazing speeds. I love a drummer who isn’t afraid of showing himself off instead of hiding behind a kit. Bevan did just that, standing up and clapping his sticks together and at times running up to the front of the stage to taunt the crowd.
The energy continued throughout the show, as bassist Walter Gervers grooved next to Bevan whilst sythn player Edwin Congreave chilled behind his array of samplers and launch pads. Philippakas ate up the crowd’s enthusiasm, launching himself with guitar in hand into the crowd. He is a showman, but it seems natural as he drags around his mic stand, smokes cigarettes and throws his water bottle at fans down below.
The majority of songs came from Holy Fire and earlier album Antidotes, with ‘Olympic Airways’, ‘Red Sock Pugie’ and a fast paced ‘Electric Bloom’ making appearances. At some points Congreave would start a beat with Bevan following close behind with an intricate cross rhythm that always resolved into an arrangement of polyrhythm’s. They were absolutely flawless, and if they did screw up I was too busy enjoying Philippakas’ antics to even notice. Continuing with the show pony persona, Smith moved to keys for ‘Providence’ and Philippakas swapped his guitar for a floor tom in their last song ‘Electric Bloom’.
More stage technicians came out to fix up the mess Philippakas had made ready for the hugely demanded encore. ‘Inhaler’ was the obvious choice to fire up the encore as the crowd went mental for it. Alpine’s Phil Tucker enters the stage and takes to the floor tom for ‘Two Steps Twice’, with Philippakas disappearing half way through. All of a sudden he appears on top of the balcony, hands his guitar to an eager fan and attempts to jump off the balcony into the mosh below. Unfortunately the security guards had grown wise to the previously performed stunt and held him back. I’d seen many videos from the Saturday night show of Philippakas climbing down the balcony so I was a little disappointed I missed that.
He made it back to the stage for the end of ‘Two Steps Twice’ and of course taking it just that step further an onlooker from the crowd made it up on stage only to be chased down and thrown out. It was definitely one of the most exciting shows I’ve be to and if I had the chance to see the Foals again I wouldn’t hesitate for a second.
Reviewer: Louie Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ2Xb6EXAKE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I6SG-sIcsE