Friendly Fires - Coronet Theatre, London

To say friendly fires have had a good 18 months would be analogous to saying “The Fall did a few Peel Sessions” or that “Scarlett Johansson is quite hot”. A critically acclaimed double gold-selling debut album packed with some truly unforgettable moments, a Mercury Prize short listing, two(!) Brit nominations and a reputation as one of the most incredible and unpredictable live bands the UK has produced in years (Brazilian style carnival dancers anyone??!).

Tonight’s gig at Elephant and Castle’s Coronet Theatre is the epitome of such a hardworking band. The unique art deco interior is filled to its best part of 3000 strong capacity and by the time Friendly Fires take to the stage around 1:30am, the largely heavily intoxicated (legally, of course).

The set (rather predictably, owing to their fairly limited release back catalogue) consists of basically their 2008 debut Friendly Fires, with latest single Kiss of Life thrown in for good measure. The band scamper through the night in the carnival inspired dance-pop way that only they can. With Ed Macfarlane’s niche white funk dancing, the music bleeding panoramically from the venue and confetti literally raining from the ceiling for what seems like hours, I can safely say this is the closest I have been to musical ecstasy in a long long time. (The fact that there is a super limited edition 12” remix of On Board AND a Friendly Fires oyster card holder for sale at the end of the gig does, I will not tell a lie, leads me to cream my musical pants about 20 minutes later).

The UK music scene needs more bands like Friendly Fires. With no affiliation to a particular “scene” and successfully transcending the sometimes difficult dance/rock boundary without sounding like something some pseudo “Nu-Rave” band chundered up in a drug fuelled haze years before.I’m sure I’m not the only one who is excited for the new FF’S output this decade, let’s just hope the success doesn’t go to their heads.

Andy