In-stores can be fairly timid affairs. Your favourite band surrounded by hoards of CDs, stood in front of a crowd that tend to resist any sort of movement in the hope of giving their image and freshly coiffured hair the optimum chance of survival. Fortunately, Foals’ raucous set at Rough Trade East was the exact opposite of what could have easily been an awkward posing parade. Oxford’s favourite sons were on the cusp of dropping their now newly released fourth album What Went Down and the fleeting appearance at East London’s most famous independent record store acted as a platform for the band to air some unheard material, as well as see them dust off a few classics.
Foals took to the stage and lurched into a rousing rendition of new cut ‘Snake Oil’, complete with its Tom Morello-esque breakdowns and a prowling groove that thrusts the track into previously uncharted territory. They then delved into their unrivalled back catalogue and breezed into ‘My Number’, causing a sing-along en masse, showing that despite the track’s vast exposure it still retains its bouncy panache. The sun drenched jaunt of freshly released single ‘Mountain at My Gates’ was then premiered, featuring a guitar and vocal frenzy at the songs climax courtesy of main man Yannis Philippakis, as the band started to feel their way into the set. The quintet’s sombre side was then showcased within the cinematic ‘Give it All’, as its chorus set the perfect backdrop to allow for Philippakis’ vocal harmonies to effortlessly intertwine with Jimmy Smith’s precise guitar work.
The tempo was then thrust tenfold as the crushing ‘Inhaler’ chimed in, with the dance floor descending into carnage as bodies were held aloft and limbs were flailing. Philippakis then separated the crowd like an indie Moses and scaled the CD racks and Rough Trade counters in a moment that epitomised the chaotic turn the show had taken. Then came the intense rush of lead single and title track off the new album, a five minute burst that is arguably the most balls-out song that Foals have ever penned. Its snarling refrain of “When I see a man I see a lion / When I see a man I see a liar” was being barked back by the crowd with as much vim and vigour as the band delivered it with, making it an undeniable highlight of a hugely triumphant night.
The dust intermittently settled as a short break met the end of ‘What Went Down’, until the band emerged to partake in what seemed to be an incredibly impromptu encore, an ode to the shows manic progression. The opening chords of old time favourite and seasoned closer ‘Two Steps, Twice’ rang out and was gleefully met by the now sweat drenched onlookers, as its iconic breakdown incited a mass dance off, with Philippakis throwing himself into the front row as the track reached its crescendo. A truly colossal showcase of what Foals have achieved in their career and what the future holds for them, as What Went Down looks to be another gem in the groups already diverse and anthemic musical arsenal. Here’s to one of the most consistent bands modern music has to offer.
Words by Joe Connell