Giving It A Little Bit More

Friendly Fires + SBTRKT, Leeds Academy, 19th November 2011

Bathed in green light, the two men of SBTRKT gave us a relentless, bass driven opening set. Flying between instruments, looping various percussion and keyboards, we got masks and mayhem. Shame there wasn’t time for Something Goes Right, but Pharaohs and Hold On more than made up for that. See them live if you can.

Ed McFarlane is a machine. He may have had to cancel a bunch of shows due to laryngitis, but tonight he was king. The very second that opener Lovesick kicked in, he was off, a blur of hips and moves that make Mick Jagger look like Mick Hucknall.

Their first album was one I adored for years after it was release, so Pala faced expectations it was unlikely to match. Jump In The Pool, Paris and the superlative Skeleton Boy were therefore obvious highlights. The tropical LED displays brought some warmth to this bitter Yorkshire winter, and an upbeat crowd brought the dance in response.

Finishing with their festival anthem Hawaiian Air and a deafening Kiss Of Life, Friendly Fires reminded us why they are one of the most rewarding and exciting live acts in the country.