The first thing I thought when I saw the name Funeral For A Friend was "They sound like fun!" And they were! I have to confess that I knew nothing about this band before seeing them. My sister (whose favourite artist is Donna Summer) strongly recommended them. 
So when I entered the jam-packed Ebisu room to catch the end of the support act "Fightstar", I was somewhat taken aback to hear a band that sounded very much like a heavy version of the Foo Fighters playing. And very good they were too! All the three heads bouncing in unison while brandishing their guitars like swords should have given me a strong hint of what was to come. If this is the support band, I can't wait to see the "main act".
A theatrical opening with a gradually building "Jon Lord" style keyboard sound resonating around the room, dry ice swirling, and the excitement amongst the very young-looking crowd starts to build. About thirty seconds pass before vocalist Matt Davies bounces across the stage and shouts "Hello Tokyo". Hello indeed. 
At the end of the impressive opening song, the title of which I was unable to catch in the excitement, the second song is announced as being "Roses For The Dead". Well, this isn't very Donna Summer, but it is very refreshing to see a no-frills full-on rock and roll band going through some pretty impressive numbers.
Their working of the crowd is excellent as they go through the full repertoire of rock and roll crowd participation exercises, including the whole room clapping along, the crowd singing entire choruses, and even a request for everybody to turn on their mobile phones and hold them in the air. Barry Manilow, eat your heart out. And plenty of talking to that audience in a most endearing accent that was Welsh with an affected US twang that involved shouting "F### Yeah!" and "sweet" quite a lot. 
The highlights of the show were "Escape Artists Never Die" and "Red is the New Black". Sweet!
To quote Mr. Davies, "Funeral For A Friend Don't Do Encores, we just rock the f### out!" And indeed they did, playing their last four songs one after another without a break, before riding off into the sunset having delivered a very entertaining and professional performance. Not exactly what I was expecting, but I certainly wasn't disappointed. My only regret, other than listening to my sister, was that I wasn't more familiar with their songs. So I am going to get my hands on one of their CD's, put on my headphones, and "rock the f### out". Sweet! |
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report by jamie and photos by saya38 |
mag files : Funeral For A Friend Fun with Funeral For A Friend : (06/04/10 @ Liquidroom Ebisu) : review by jamie, photos by saya38photo report : (06/04/10 @ Liquidroom Ebisu) : photos by saya38photo report : (05/11/03 @ Shinkiba Studio Coast) : photos by keco渾然たる轟音、そして不似合いなまでの誠実 : (04/10/08 @ Shinsaibashi Quattro) : review by ikuyo, photos by yeggphoto report : (04/10/08 @ Shinsaibashi Quattro) : photos by yeggphoto report : (04/10/04 @ Shibuya Quattro) : photos by keco |
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The official site of Funeral for a Friend http://www.funeralforafriend.com/ The latest album  "Hours" (US import {Enhanced} / US import {Clean / Enhanced} / UK import {Enhanced} / 国内限定盤 {17trax}) |
previous works ;
"Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation" ( 国内盤 / US import / UK import ) "Seven Ways To Scream Your Name" ( US import ) "Juneau" ( UK import ) "Four Ways To Scream Your Name" ( UK import ) "Between Order And Models" ( UK import ) check the albums? |
 2006Arctic Monkeys Blow Hot And Cold : Arctic Monkeys (4th Apr. @ Shin Kiba Studio Coast)Get Me Some Holstein Pills! : Holstein (15th Mar. @ Daikanyama Unit)Kaisers show who's Chief : Kaiser Chiefs (23th Jan. @ Liquidroom Ebisu) |