As the saying goes, “great things come in pairs”. And with Future of the Left you really get double the value, where the feeling of being at a stand-up comedy gig as well as a kick-ass musical display has been a regular occurrence within the bands repertoire. After releasing ‘Travels with Myself and Another’ earlier this year, I couldn’t wait to see how their live performance has developed after their second album.
As I rushed home from work, caught the train and the tube down to Highbury & Islington for my first gig at the newly corporately named Relentless Garage I surprisingly managed to make it in time for the two support acts. The opening act Japanese Voyeurs provided us with female led scuzzy metal-core which has some potential but was difficult to get really excited about due to their poor sound and early start. However, I was tempted to buy one of their brilliant t-shirts from the merch desk before they came on stage but wearing it I felt would be false advertising.
Main tour support Tubelord have been used to playing in front of sizable crowds in their hometown of Kingston, as well as various DIY shows around the country, so I was interested to see how the hardcore pop-punk trio would fare in front of the FOTL fans. But respect where it’s due as they nailed their set with their cult following singing along to their tunes and the near capacity crowd enjoying their set.
As FOTL came to the stage at 9.30pm they launched into the opening two tracks off their latest album, ‘Arming Eritrea’ and ‘Chin Music’ respectively. Before following up with a crowd favourite from their first LP, ‘Wrigley Scott’. It took a good four or five songs before the bands' Andy ‘Falco’ Falkous and Kelson Mathias began their trademark banter with the crowd. Laying into Kings of Leon whose entire album ‘Only By the Night’ was played in between sets much to the bemusement of myself included, led to hysterical agreement from the crowd. Affectionate mockery of drummer Jack Egglestone was also a common feature during the set, where Kelson even for a short while displayed a t-shirt saying “I Hate Jack Egglestone”, which a friend of the band had kindly made for him. Throughout their 1 hour and 15 minute set they consistently played an incredible tight and loud gig coupled with incredible banter. They closed the show with the 10 minute ferociousness of non-album track ‘Cloak the Dagger’ which epically concluded with Kelson stage diving into the crowd and Jack’s drum kit being dismantled in a barrage of noise.
Having seen FOTL on more than one occasion it is possible to say they are of the funniest live bands on the planet whilst still showcasing the hi-tempo heavy rawness and witty lyrical genius that Kelson and Falco presented in Jarcrew and Mclusky respectively. Comedy geniuses? I think so!
By Freddy Rothman
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