The Futureheads, Black Cat, Washington DC
Energy and perspiration go hand in hand in delivering a first-class show.
In their latest album 'The Chaos', the Futureheads took a not-so-fashionable topic - the credit crunch - and turned into a call to arms. It's a cutting, frenetic, punk tour de force, with lead singer Barry Hyde's voice full of conviction and driving guitars and beats. Happily, the same unbridled passion that went into the record is palpable in their live performance. If someone could bottle the power of the Futureheads' live show, the energy drink industry would be out of business. It's been several years since the band last toured in America, so this is a special event for the denizens of Washington.
There is a glint in Barry Hyde's eye that seems to suggest he is aware of his band's authority. Straight from the gate, the Futureheads attack the setlist with zest, guitars and hips swinging to and fro. Songs from 'The Chaos' - the pop briliance of 'Heartbeat Song', the determination of 'The Connector', the shouty resoluteness of 'I Can Do That'- get the same raucous reception as older tracks, like 'The Beginning of the Twist' and 'Skip to the End'. The persistent shouts from several punters during the entire set for 'Man Ray' impress the band so much that the suggestion is considered seriously and these people are rewarded with the song during the encore.
If points were awarded for onstage gig hilarity, this band would receive high marks for their performance. All through their set, it's evident from the good-natured joking between Hyde, guitarist Ross Millard, and bassist Jaff Craig that they are tight, a nice feeling to have when you're listening to unrestrained, 'dangerous' punk rock and the floor below you is shaking from the reverberations. Hyde introduces 'Sun Goes Down' with 'it's a vampire sex song!' and asks for the house lights to be adjusted to fit the mood. To his delight and the delight of the audience, the stage is soon swathed by a red pallour suited to the dark nature of the song. Forget 'Twilight'. This is the real deal.
Their now-famous cover of Kate Bush's 'Hounds of Love' is employed as a game, with the audience divided in half and encouraged to sing along with either Hyde or Craig. Audience participation is often key to a successful gig, and this night, Hyde has said and done everything right to get the audience behind them. At another point in the show, Hyde asks to show us something. There is a large red bruise on the man's right hip, undoubtedly where his guitar chafes his middle every night when he's swinging that guitar around. Talk about giving his all. But it's very rock 'n' roll.
Looking at the band's American tour schedule, its overall shortness now makes complete sense. With the kind of workout the Futureheads give themselves every night, it's a wonder they aren't completely shattered after the first week. For these blokes from Sunderland, energy and perspiration go hand in hand in delivering a first-class show.
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