Friends Electric at Swn 2011
Neath based Friends Electric seem oddly placed on tonight's Swn line-up at Solus, sandwiched as they are between Creatures Of Love's dark, gothy new wave electro and, And So I Watch You From Afar's upbeat post-rock. Their indie-dance-pop finds only a small crowd and the fact that our compere comes on stage to tell us we have to go off into a small back room to watch them just before they come on probably doesn't help.
About half the audience dutifully shuffles through into the small room next door and squints in pain at the over the top lighting rig, but unfortunately they don't seem prepared for the extremely bouncy dance tunes on offer which are more dance then indie, synth heavy, and full of super poppy melodies.
It's a shame for the band as Friends Electric play well, seem like a nice bunch and do appear to be really pleased to be there. They try their best to make a connection, urging the crowd to move, but even at half way through their set only the odd head bobbing can be seen, and as soon the strains of And So I Watch You From Afar tuning up can be heard from the bigger room next door, those who were merely curious or passing the time make their exit and it becomes a bit sparse.