Friendly Fires

<img src="http://www.qromag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/friendlyfiresjune6.jpg" alt="Friendly Fires : Live" />Friendly Fires brought their tropical-themed <i>Pala</i><span style="font-style: normal"> tour to the Doug Fir in Portland, OR, playing eight tracks from the new...
Friendly Fires : Live
Friendly Fires 

Friendly Fires brought their tropical-themed Pala tour to the Doug Fir in Portland, OR on June 6th, playing eight tracks from the new album.  With a rather subdued, "Hello Portland," from singer Ed Macfarlane (sporting a Hawaiian shirt), the band launched into "Lovesick" and began a frenetic and sweaty dance party that ended much too soon.  Though the band played only an hour, they put in the energy of a marathon concert.  Besides the three members of the band, they brought an extra percussionist and two horn players to make the sound even more expansive.  By the second song, Pala‘s "Blue Cassette", the crowd was in full-on dancing mode singing out with Macfarlane, "As I hear your voice / It sets my heart on fire."

Drummer Jack Savidge and the extra percussionist gave the set a very tribal feeling, which went perfect with Macfarlane’s completely uninhibited dancing.  During "On Board", Macfarlane jumped into the crowd and lead some members of the audience through an informal conga line, snaking their way throughout the others in attendance.  The band never really took their foot off the gas all night.  Guitarist Ed Gibson’s chiming riffs bounced around the beats and the horn section gave the songs an added tropical feeling.  "Skeleton Boy" was another highlight, with Macfarlane’s emotive vocals reaching up to the rafters.

Pala‘s first single "Live Those Days Tonight" took full advantage of the extra musicians and the bridge turned into a heavily percussive breakdown that echoed throughout the small club.  The site of both drummers arms up in the air, then in unison pounding down on their kits was a great visual.  The end of the main set was the triple punch of "Jump In The Pool", "Pull Me Back To Earth" and "Paris".  This only upped the ante of the earlier songs and had the crowd in a fever.  Friendly Fires have the unique ability to get an audience completely worked up just by being themselves.  Their songs are concise and catchy and without the needless extended build-ups and breakdowns other bands use to work the emotional swings of a crowd.  These guys are authentic all the way down to Macfarlane’s dancing.

Friendly Fires stepped off for a very short break, then returned with "Hawaiian Air", the second single from Pala.  With Macfarlane singing, "Can I take this all in," it felt as if the audience felt the same.  There was just so much happening on the stage, yet it was perfectly in sync, making for a thoroughly great show.  The night ended with their 2009 single "Kiss of Life" and the drummers worked this song for all it was worth.  Seven minutes later when it ended, everyone was still buzzing as they made their way out of the club.  Friendly Fires’ new songs received just as much adulation from the audience as the tracks from their 2008 Mercury Prize nominated self-titled debut (QRO review).  With any luck, not only will this tour gain steam, but Pala will also be on the short list for album of the year.Ed Gibson

Set list

Lovesick
Blue Cassette
True Love
On Board
Chimes
Skeleton Boy
Show Me Lights
Live Those Days Tonight
Hurting
Jump In the Pool
Pull Me Back To Earth
Paris
Hawaiian Air
Kiss of Life
Ed Macfarlane & crowd

Categories
Concert Reviews
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