Late of the Pier > Shibuya O-East > January 2009

'Weird, weird, weird, weird' - the words of Late of the Pier bassist Andrew Faley (aka Francis Dudley Dance) shortly after leaving the stage at Shibuya O-East last night. Why weird? The band's performance of their supernaturally synthesised, off-kilter sci-fi pop come glam-thrash sound absorbed the capacity strong audience like a McDonald's advert would a small child. It was intense, ruthless and ultimately successful.


So why weird? The band had a forty minute set, the venue management required a ninety minute set, so their usual set-list has a DJ set/dance-off placed delicately in the middle of it. Faley provided the tunes, whilst lead vocalist Samuel Eastgate (aka Samuel Dust) and synth queen Sam Potter (aka Jack Paradise) entered the crowd attempting to find 'the best dancer in Tokyo'; drummer Ross Dawson (aka Red Dog Consuela) presumably went somewhere and rested his arms. On reflection, the band were unsure as to how this impromptu interlude had fared, suggesting that from then on 'there was a strange atmosphere'.
TR disagrees. In fact, upon the band returning to the stage the crowd were ready to respond to their every whim, with Potter emerging wielding a Bowie-esque power of persuasion as the clap conductor, the crowd controller. Indeed they were twice as hyped with 'Hot Tent Blues/Broken' working the whole place into a frenzy, only to be topped by 'Bathroom Gurgle' as their finale.

www.lateofthepier.com
www.myspace.com/lateofthepier

****/5

Friendly Fires > Shibuya O-East > December 2008

St. Albans' finest, the Pop/Disco House inspired Friendly Fires made a swift but essential visit to the city earlier this month in what arguably turned into one of the most defining dates of their world tour. With no support act it was left to Jack Savidge (drums) to flex his cross-fader, placing the crowd on a steady, simmering, slow boil in preparation for what was to come.
With the arrival of lead vocalist Ed MacFarlane, bassist Edd Gibson and percussionist Rob Lee (live only), Shibuya O-East errupted. Female crowd members were unable to contain their enthusiasm towards MacFarlane's hip-driven moves, lacing the event with a level of euphoria one would imagine akin to a Backstreet Boys concert on Helium. Post gig, the delirium spreads online in a flash, with one fan describing the moment MacFarlane greeted the crowd early on in the set: 'I touched his hand and hair, and actually he was just in front of me – that moment was like a movie! Thank you Ed Mac'.
Hysteria aside, it was a stunning performance, with the venue's soundsystem clearly doing the band's percussion-powered sound justice. They were tight and clearly well rehearsed given the extensive touring the band have done over the past year. And what a year it has been with countless TV appearances, a UK Top 40 Album and a Top 20 Single. Post gig Gibson agreed, stating how 'a year ago we could have never predicted to be ending this one like this, we're very lucky'.

www.wearefriendlyfires.com
www.myspace.com/friendlyfires

*****/5