Friendly Fires // Digital

Photo by Martina Woerz

Their self titled 2008 debut album is full of funky tunes inspired by disco and Brazilian music (whilst occasionally sounding a bit 80s in a good way), as well as floaty daydreamer songs with electro-synth elements; pretty much something for everyone. The crowd were quite a good reflection of this what with quite a varying age range of people at the show; and thankfully not just full of pretentious indie kids. Anyone who’s a sucker for the cow bell would definitely have loved this. Was surprised Friendly Fires were playing at Digital and not somewhere bigger but this sold out gig got everyone dancing pretty much non-stop on the Brighton leg of their tour. Sadly there was not enough room for the St Albans trio to instigate a conga line as they had done at Coachella festival stateside the week before. However they brought the party spirit to town bigtime.

With lighting reminiscent to 90’s era Top of The Pops, Friendly Fires came on and performed a tight set, transferring all the suaveness from the record and more for the night’s performance. “Jump in the Pool” started of the proceedings nicely with its samba rhythm. “Lovesick” and “Photobooth” made me feel like I was at some disco in the 80s but loved it; especially “In the Hospital” with its impressive percussion efforts. One of the best moments of the gig was when they played Skeleton Boy. As well as a flawless performance just looking round at everyone dancing so angular like as if they were in the video was great. The added saxophone was a good addition to this song (a re-released single) which has been so key for raising profile for the band in these last few months. The dreaminess of “Paris” lived up to its lyric “We’re gonna lose ourselves, I promise” for sure, which pretty much summed up the night.

Catch them if you can at Creamfields. Or if you’re lucky enough; go see them support Blur at their Hyde Park shows this summer. I’m sure they will have nicer ladies loos than Digital; no toilet seats, no proper door locks and so fucking dark it’s not cool!

http://www.myspace.com/friendlyfires

Words: The Mexican