I’ve only recently become a fan of the Futureheads. I caught them when they played a charity event at the Roundhouse. I really liked the short sharp shock, instancy of their music. So I’ve been keeping an eye out for their gigs. Unfortunately (or so I thought), this tour turned out to be an a cappella tour. A cappella, in my opinion, is fine in small doses, and their recent acapella album, was a few song long of being the right length. Individually the music was good, collectively it felt too ‘samey’. So I wasn’t sure what to expect from tonight’s gig.
My trepidation was unfounded. Instead tonight’s gigs at the excellent Union Chapel, was a fun filled 90 minutes of excellent vocal harmonisation, interspersed by imaginative acoustic takes on their back catalogue with some interesting covers, such as a Black Eyed Peas number.
For the last few numbers, the lads were ably supported by their support act, The Cornshed Sisters, and a London choir. It was a great finish to a great night’s entertainment.
The Civil Wars are one of my favourite bands at the moment. The duo of Joy Williams and John Paul White, play ‘Americana’ and recently won 2 Grammy’s for ‘Best Folk Album’ and best ‘Country Duo/Group Performance’. As the awards demonstrate, they manage to blend indie, folk and country seamlessly to instant mass appeal. They’re a band that’s appeal is entirely based around the vocals. Somersaulting around each other, yet always complementing each other. At times they appear to be almost telepathic. Tonight’s performance was up to their usual standards. With standout performances of ‘Poison and Wine’, a fantastic Portishead cover and an especially touching moment, where pregnant Joy dedicated ‘To Whom It May Concern’ to her unborn child. It was written as a love song to an unmet lover. But tonight it was about the love of a mother for a child she has yet to see. No one could fail to be touched by the sentiments. This was yet another amazing performance. I’ve already booked my tickets for their return in the Autumn. My only difficulty is deciding whether to see them in both London and Cambridge.
Matthew and the Atlas
The Civil Wars
The Civil Wars
The Civil Wars
