Cinespace : Friendly Fires

The Friendly Fires have had a busy year. Just within a few months, I have seen them come around 3 times - and this time here their buzz has finally caught on.

I chose to see them perform at Cinespace, instead of the much hyped show at The El Rey with Swedish bank Lykke Li. I wanted to focus on them, in a small venue, and it didn't hurt that the night was cause for celebration...GO OBAMA.



The crowd of young, I mean young, hipsters shouted in between songs "Yes We Can" and even more chanting and high fives of "OBAMA!". I think Ed Macfarlane wasn't sure what to do with it, a young Brit caught up in the action of election night. He graciously thanked the audience and said how wonderful his trip in America has been...as they will now move on to play Europe.


If this band doesn't land a big publicity blitz and air play, god help us, because they are magic. They make me wanna dance.



The Friendly Fires prove you can make even a house hold item, like a dust buster, into a instrument.

About To Ignite : Pop Levi & Friendly Fires

For one of the first times since I have been to The Echo, the set times were actually acurate. I assumed the first band, Pop Levi would go on sometimes between 9:30-10P. Unfortunately I was wrong. During most of the set I was enjoying a large dirty martini at Taix across the street and came in for last three songs of Pop Levi. Lucky for me I got to hear one of my favorite tracks "Pick-Me-Up Uppercut" and then the show ended with an acoustic track.

Mozambique Courier aka Pop Levi, once a member of Ladytron is fabulously 60's costume. With his mop head hair cut, lean and cuffed pants, and slight make up he's a throwback of fun.

I felt like I had come home when I saw Pop Levi, and then the Friendly Fires perfom for a smaller crowd....the kind of space and mass I prefer rather than such large shows at the Mayan and The Nokia. I love the intimacy and accessability to the music you get from places like The Echo, Spaceland and my beloved Troubadour.

I had seen The Friendly Fires perform this week, opening for The Bloc Party - where in my opinion, was the best band in the nights line up. It seems going from a venue the size of the Mayan down to size of The Echo only gets The Friendly Fires to perform an even better show.


The lead singer Ed MacFarlane moves and resembles a young Mick Jagger, only...cuter. The crowd danced and moved to their energetic songs that will soon be huge. For those who love Datarock and Bloc Party...you must must check them out. My favorites are "On Board" and "Ex Lover".

Cursed Downtown : Friendly Fires | Does it Offend You, Yeah | Bloc Party

Have you been hearing crickets from HYLU? There hasn't been a fantastic show or band to discuss. Instead I have been going backwards and listening to older bands theatre influencing bands now and for the future. Last night was the first show I have gone to in over a week....that I am even going to discuss. With alot of hype and excitement I ventured downtown. The last show I went down there to see was at The Crash Mansion, and if you scroll below you can see my disgusted review of that venue. But this show took place at The Mayan. A beautiful theater which I have experienced a range of shows at.

For some reason, and maybe because I don't go to 18 and over shows, or if I do - I don't notice because they give out wristbands....the venue was disastrous. At NO fault to the bands I should mention. I hate that it gets associated to the bands..and really the venue's just can't get it straight. Wristbands. Wristbands. Wristbands.


When we got to the venue, the Friendly Fires were on stage rocking out. While they look like a bunch of teenagers rocking out in the garage, they might have put on the best performance of the night really giving it their all. The English band worked the cow bell drum kit...and soon you will hear more - possibly posted to the heyyoulistenup.com postings or on national radio.


Second up on stage was the band that has exploded over night for "We Are Rockers" - Does It Offend You, Yeah. But while they got set up, I headed around the theatre ready for a drink. Noticing that most of the crowd looked like a High School dance with no cups in hand....we ventured upstairs to find at the top of the venue in a small cramped stage people in my age bracket! It was a sectioned off area for buying/drinking alcohol. Two lines, two bartenders, and 30 minutes later in line, I had a 6 pack of beer in my hand. That's right. A 6-pack. What?! What was going on. So - we could only drink in this cramped unventilated space, and the view from the stage was silly. And we were then stuck.

But I diverted from the show...sorry. Does It offend You, Yeah....yeah, well - they have a full album out - so you would think they would play it? Maybe they had a malfunctioned instrument or something with their sound, but 4 songs later they were off stage. Hm.


And the finale - the reason most people probably came out....Bloc Party. With a new album coming out - the audience went nuts for them. Singer Kere Okereke - though from the UK was wearing a Obama shirt with his red Cross Colors styled shorts and high tops. Love it.