MTV Presents: Foals Live Review

Evenings like this can be depressing.

Nothing to do with the sodden weather outside, but an evening spent in the company of hundreds of carefree teenagers.

They all had such barefaced disregard that it was school night and unapologetically tapped into an inexhaustible energy reserve with the intent on simply having a great time.

I wasn’t alone in hating them as I stood with the other elders, sulking on the outskirts and feeling exhausted just by watching them jump around. Even young would-be chin-rubbers at the front were throwing shapes.  

When Foals took to the stage (sounding impressively tight from a busy festival season) they quickly worked the crowd into a melee of sweat, fringes and flailing digital cameras with indie-prog classic Cassius and this Summer’s anthem, Miami.

Having migrated away from their angular math-rock sound on new (and superb!) sophomore album Total Life Forever with its introspective rock leanings they now roll with a bigger sound at their shows; and certainly a sound that this audience appreciated.

They managed to strike a deft balance of past and present songs. Old favs such as Red Socks Pugie were worked in deftly with new tracks like Black Gold to create a sensational broiling atmosphere.                         

Despite Foals falling foul to some technical hitches this didn’t hamper an exhilarating evening within the environs of a sweltering Dingwalls.

The crowd surged and swayed and even sat down during an extended Spanish Sahara before leaping into life as Total Life Forever’s stand out track erupted into life.

After the carnage had elapsed and the young kids made their way home, beatific with joy, all that remained was for the few oldsters to grab their umbrellas and trudge homewards wishing just a little bit that it was Friday night.

Then they could’ve flung themselves around in front of the stage too...

Well, maybe.

By Michael Currell.