Foals : A Superb Show in Sydney

There are moments in certain bands’ lives when you know that a breakthrough is being made. Momentum has gathered, stars have aligned, the smell of critical acceptance and rabid fan appreciation muskily clouds any doubt and sets a trajectory so upwards that even Jack’s magic beans feel inferior.

Foals are living one such moment. Tonight, on the first of two, sold out in nanoseconds, Big Day Out sideshows at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory, they nervelessly, exhilaratingly stayed in our sights long enough to confirm what we already knew. Holy Fire is the one, the record to transform them from big in their own small pond indieness, to ocean boiling, mermaid shagging, neptune’s inner circle residing, big rock behemoths.

Tonight Yannis doesn’t say much, and they play a pretty intense set, but it’s clear that all and sundry are fully into it and enjoying. Such is their confidence, that not only did they start with a new song, but an instrumental at that, and yet “Prelude” proved apt as it grooved and built, in a superbly paced set, allowing the crowd to settle into the gig rather than completely lose their shit for the first 3 or 4 songs and then have nothing left.

Seemingly alone in the world “Spanish Sahara” passed me by first time around. It just didn’t grab me in the same way that the early singles and Antidotes did. Well tonight it clicked, sandwiched by another formidable newie “Providence” and old favourite “Red Socks Pugie”. Maybe it was the euphoria of the set, or maybe just the beer, but it’s perceived blandless became elegiac, it’s slow pace became tension build and, in the context of a live set, it took on new meaning.

First encore “Inhaler” took on no new meaning though, it just confirmed the existence of a new classic. This is a song to bridge generations, the song to breakthrough. Foals tonight were superb, a gig where you can say “I saw Foals when they played clubs.” Get on that beanstalk after them before you lose sight. (@SGSNSteve)

First published on: Something Gold Something New