Funeral For A Friend - Rios, Leeds.
FEATURING WE ARE THE OCEAN & PEOPLE IN PLANES.
‘That’s right. Feed my ego!’ – Matt Davies-Kreye
People in Planes may have fans excited all over the US but back on home soil the Welsh fivesome receive a different reaction. Tonight, they are politely clapped by a room full of excited Funeral For A Friend fans. Despite the reactions they are on top form, minus a few guitar technicalities.
Storming through new album tracks such as ‘Mayday (M’aidez),’ ‘Pretty Buildings,’ ‘Last Man Standing’ and closing with ‘Vampires’ they prove they are well ahead of their chart contemporaries in every way but recognition. Complete with melodic tunes, thumping choruses and stunning vocals from both Gareth Jones and Pete Roberts. They are a package Britain should be proud of. You have a gem Britain, it’s about time you noticed it.
Speaking of recognition, We Are The Ocean are definitely getting their fair share. They are a completely different package to People in Planes. Instantly imploring the crowd to join in, bounding across the stage and ensuring that every single body in the room is paying full attention to them. They are the perfect support act.
Perhaps their only problem comes from their over-enthusiasm. Second vocalist Liam Cromby has a wonderfully rich, toned voice but it is often masked by Dan Brown’s screaming vocals. Not to suggest that Dan is surplus to requirements. Far from it. If he wasn’t in the band they would near ordinary and they are far from that. It would just, perhaps, help if he sat out for a song and allowed Liam to grasp the frontman spotlight.
‘Nothing Good Has Happened Yet’ is a thumping tune live!
Funeral For A Friend have been at the forefront of the British music scene since their emergence in 2001. Having reached the top 20 for the fourth time with their latest album, ‘Memory and Humanity,’ they have a depth of songs that many bands can only dream of.
Tonight they pick from every album. After opening with a storming versions of 'All The Rage' and new single 'Rules and Games' they race through their set.
'Casually Dressed in Deep in Conversation' was a phenomenal record that launched Funeral For A Friend to the masses. Tonight, if you were unfamiliar with the band you would have little trouble guessing which songs come from the band early albums. The crowd become noticeably louder and excitable.
However, ‘She Drove Me To Daytime Television’ and ‘Rookie of the Year’ fit effortlessly in with newer material, tracks like ‘To Die Like Mouchette’ and ‘Maybe I Am.’ Even ‘Into Oblivion’ is met with mass jumping. After a night of humorous banter and lively entertainment Matt Davies-Kreye takes an opportunity to get serious. After new track ‘Ghosts,’ a powerful attack on physical and mental abuse the frontman decides to make his point known. ‘In this day and age, it should not be fucking happening.’
Although many would consider it unnecessary preaching it is, in fact, why the band have lasted. They have a laugh, they put on a show but beneath that they don’t want you to forget the serious nature of their songs. They want you to get their messages and they definitely don’t want you to forget them. Two songs later Davies-Kreye is back to his chirpy self, rapping along to crowd claps as they wait for Darren Smith to finish tuning his guitar.
Finishing the encore with ‘Streetcar’ and ‘Escape Artists Never Die’ the band leave Leeds Rios exactly as they arrived. Relevant, adored and an experience to be enjoyed.
Click HERE to read our pre-show chat with Funeral For A Friend or see LINKS for band websites.
BY KELDA MANLEY
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