Friendly Fires, Miami Horror(Live) @ Prince Bandroom,Melbourne (29/07/09)

Fri 31st Jul, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Splendour in the Grass provides a winter wonderland for gig goers in the capital cities – loads of international artists out for quick tours during a time that most bands would rather be in the warmer climates of Europe and North America. But despite the chilly conditions in the streets of St. Kilda, the Prince Bandroom was like jumping out of a frozen vodka bar into an active volcano. The local chapter of the Skins fan-club managed to sell out the Prince with a line-up featuring British dance-punks Friendly Fires and local throwbacks Miami Horror, keeping things nice and toasty for the evening.

The evening’s support was ‘famous on Hype Machine’ locals Miami Horror. Ben Vanguarde made a name for himself under the guise of Miami Horror with his remixes of acts such as PNAU and Grafton Primary, but tonight the name represents a four piece band to hype up the act’s forthcoming album. Opening with EP favourite Don’t Be On With Her, the four-piece pumped out a new wave sound that didn’t translate live as well as it does recorded, due to inconsistent vocals and thumping base that dominates over everything else. Those fans of Vangarde’s remixes got live re-interpretations with Datarock’s Fa Fa Fa and Stardust’s Music Sounds Better With You, which had the crowd signing along with stuff they were familiar with. Miami Horror in a live setting are that band – you know, the one at the very start of the house party in a John Hughes film where everyone in the place is looking at the stage and dancing, but dancing because music is playing and not because what they are hearing is incredible or offensive.

Following an atmospheric instrumental opening (and several screams for the British roadie that set up the band’s gear from unknowing fans) Friendly Fires made their way onto stage. ‘I want everyone to bounce,’ demands frontman Ed Macfarlane, and the crowd instantly complies, yelling each word of opener Lovesick. Jump In The Pool follows in the same fashion, crowd sings, girls go up in guys shoulders, guys go up on guys shoulders. To the viewer, Macfarlane isn’t an extremely interesting frontman. He belts out the words to each song, occasionally going for a walk around the stage or playing with his wood-panelled effects boxes. The band is just as competent but there is hardly any live feeling to it – you may as well put the CD on to get the same result.

By listening to the CD you’d get the exact same songs as well. With only one album and a handful of EPs material out, Friendly Fires struggles to be on stage longer then forty minutes. For a band whose second album is due for release later this year, the only new song played was just-released single Kiss Of Live, limiting the band to play every song off it’s debut, an album that is not without filler. Songs run into the back of each other, and Mcfarlane barely talks on stage, barring a speedy quip about the first song they ever wrote together – Photobooth. Fires end up playing a ten song set, returning for encore of Ex-Lover, promising they will return soon then exiting stage-right.

Friendly Fires sold out the Prince Bandroom and a quick look around the audience sees plenty of happy faces, singing the words of closer Paris as they slowly wander down the stairs. But to describe this gig as being anything more than average would be a lie. Perhaps once the second album is released and a bit more touring is done Friendly Fires will become a must-see live act, but those who missed out seeing the St. Albans boys shouldn’t be too disappointed – you can grab their CD, close your eyes and get a similar result.

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS FROM THE GIG HERE