A Friendly love-in

Friendly Fires create euphoria at The Forum

30 April 2009 - Dressed in suit trousers and shirts, the dapper trio took to the stage of Kentish Town’s Forum and were greeted by the rapturous applause of adoring fans.

Friendly Fires are midway through a mammoth, sold out headline tour of the UK and tonight proved their live show is quite deserved of the praise the band has been getting.

In the last year they’ve received an NME Award, the Best Breakthrough Southbank Award, are billed for all of the big festivals this summer and have recently been handpicked to support Blur as part of their comeback tour.

The singer, Ed MacFarlane, admitted before the show they are feeling the burn a bit from so much gigging, but at no point did this show.

His vocals were spot on, as was Jack Savidge’s rhythmic drumming and Ed Gibson’s slick bass playing.

Teamed with a spectacular array of retro disco lights and strobes, punters were treated to a relentlessly thrilling set of unique, classic songs which weaved seamlessly into each other and gave you no chance to stop the bop.

An extra bassist and a brass section, consisting of a saxophonist and trumpet player, further enhanced the sound.

Photobooth incited everyone on stage to partake in a mass jam, as did Climbing On Board, which saw Ed, Ed and Jack temporarily lose their instruments for wood blocks and the like, as the crowd’s rendition of the chorus resounded around the venue.

The gig floor turned into a full on love-in of dancing – and I don’t mean foot tapping with occasional head nods; we’re talking full on, arms in the air, fists of glory, full body moving kind of dancing.Couples were declaring their love, friends were hugging in joy as they jumped up and down and the atmosphere was electric as Friendly Fires weaved their way through a fairly swift set of their debut album tracks.Even the hardest of hearts couldn’t help but be enticed to partake in some hip-shaking, taking the lead from frontman Ed MacFarlane and his Mick Jagger-esque moves.They kick-started the show with Lovesick, and the singer told 6 Music the song has a drop that’s had a significant effect at all their shows.“There are bits of songs that people really react to,” said MacFarlane. “People love the break of Lovesick, the break of In The Hospital, Paris and On Board have been working really well live, and White Diamonds as well.”The band recently toured in Mexico, and the singer told us before the show it was quite overwhelming the reaction they got out there, so many miles from home.“It was very strange to discover that our music has had an impact in a country like that,” he explained. “It was really good. I almost felt like Morrissey for a day. It was quite crazy. I hear that he’s massive in Mexico and it was really surreal.”Paris was the stand out moment. It had the balcony up on their feet, exhilarated as the tune culminated with a glitter canon – a token, perhaps cliché gesture but never fails to make the crowd leave with smiley faces.All of their verses have such a groove that draws you in, then the choruses bombard you with such memorable hooks that are so immediate you can’t help but engage with them.If their first album can instil such excitement from a packed out Forum, the world should wait with baited breath as to what genius Friendly Fires pull out of the bag next.SetlistLovesickJump In The PoolSkeleton BoyIn The HospitalWhite DiamondsStrobeOn BoardParisEncoreEx –LoverGeorgie Rogers