Lasting Welsh Rock?
Welsh groups tend to be temporary fads - or long-lasting super groups. Judging by the fact that the Super Furry Animals are on studio album number six - it suggests that they are the latter of the two. Tonight, they grace Birmingham with their prescense for their first headline tour in two years.
After six studio albums, bands tend to do one of two things on tours. Forget most of the old material that got them where they are now and focus on the latest chart-toppers, or offer varied content to please everyone. Thankfully the SFAs decide that their fans deserve more than their latest singles - and get the two latest releases out of the way in the first 30 mins of a 90 minute set.
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The crowd responds well to a very juxtaposed set, and you can tell that different members of the audience are in to different songs - but there is never a moment where the majority of the crowd are bored. There is something for everyone tonight - no matter what their tastes are in music.
After a thumping, powerful and defined hour and a quarter - the band disapear whilst some impressive sampling causes an interesting ten minute or so song with a surround-effect. To start with this definatley peaks peoples interest; but after a while people start to wonder what will happen next as the 23:00 curfew draws ever closer. The song finishes, the crowd applaud to get their band back and they return. Dressed in hairy suits resembling bigfoot or the abominable snowman. They mime to their finale, not hiding the fact, and then dispear as the house lights raise.
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One woman walks past me, and for no reason, decides to tell me that this is the best night of her life. Tonights gig has definatley shown why the Animal's blend of pop-FX-synth-rock is still able to fill venues across the country after six albums.
To view all photos taken during this set click here. There are 24 available.