Friendly Fires @ Amplifier(24/07/09)

Wed 29th Jul, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Perth’s music scenesters were unlucky in the draw for this year’s Splendour sideshows, with most headline acts sticking to the east coast or, having agreed to venture west, aborting all plans when a minor member contracted an untimely joint infection. So it was left to the north London trio, Friendly Fires, to fulfill the musical appetite of the young pop-rock lover this winter and, despite the odd false start and mixing flaw, in a show lasting only 45 minutes the collective hunger was well satisfied.

Support act French Rockets opened the night with a rather forgettable set of psychedelic electro fuzz, the highlight of which was the kaleidoscopic light show. Consisting of synths, drums and bass, their songs were mostly tune-less and repetitive beats watched by an un-captivated few who were probably seeking to escape the cold of the outside bar. The eventual conclusion of a seemingly endless final song which barely deviated from two notes was met with mild applause and perhaps a few inward sighs of relief as the confused onlookers filed back to the bar for one last drink before the main act.

Friendly Fires have received much hype since the release of their self-titled album in 2008, with strong critical acclaim, various dance-floor filling remixes and a string of headline shows and European festival performances behind them. So it was with high anticipation that the sold-out Amplifier crowd jostled for dancing space as FF, with performance bassist/percussionist in tow, weaved through the crowd onto the stage, paused for a moment and burst into their maiden Australian performance with the foot-tapping beat of Lovesick.

Despite a couple of early sound problems with guitar riffs being drowned out by backing recordings and a re-start of Skeleton Boy due to a timing issue, the energy created in the first four or five songs was unstoppable. The samba-style drumming intro of Jump in the Pool was met with a rapturous cheer and collective sing-along to the earnest lyrics. Next up, synth heavy Skeleton Boy take II led into the popular doo-doo-doos of In the Hospital where front-man Ed Macfarlane led the charge with his dynamic body-shaking dance moves.

The momentum dropped slightly after the blistering start, with a few of the slower tempo tracks played back to back, but it was hardly noticed by those front and centre, as Macfarlane’s hula-hoop style dancing, impressive vocal range and the group’s indiscriminate use of the cowbell maintained the energy of the folks up front. Speaking of the cowbell, if tonight proved one thing, it’s that there is no such thing as too much cowbell. This simple and underestimated instrument, partial to the similar sounding Late of the Pier and The Rapture, was taken to the next level this evening, frequently brought out with great effect to give extra weight to the drumming of Jack Savidge and to get the feet shuffling. More cowbell indeed.

Set highlight Paris signaled the end of the main set, but the crowd’s chanting for – œone more song’ was rewarded as the band re-appeared after a short break to complete the performance of their album in full with one of the less climactic tracks, Ex Lover. It was a bit of a flat finish to an otherwise absorbing and entertaining show, but the crowd was not at all fazed, responding to the waving hands of the departing band with a rousing farewell. If the quality of new single Kiss of Life is anything to go by from the impending follow-up album, one suspects their next show in Perth will be in a far less intimate venue.