IDEAS

“What?”
“Fancy some pills mate”
“Nah you’re alright”

It is Saturday night, it is a stormy November Manchester evening and I have just walked into the Warehouse Project. I haven’t even got from the entrance to the bar yet. In a fantasy realm somewhere aligned with a Freddy Mercury aftershow party or an outtake from the Motley Crew biog I would be talking to a Playboy bunny with a silver chrome dish of appetisers. Alas I am not. I’ve just turned down Bez’s ugly brother (note I say ugly).

What happens in Mordor when there’s no Hobbits to kill? …they breed. My first response is “I wouldn’t buy nuclear sealed tic tacs off yer you Middleton funk wit”. But I go with “Nah you’re alright”.

Why I am here…Friendly Fires. Who do stuff like this

Friendly Fires rule. Probably my band for 2009. Yes my band for 2009. Craftmanship musicianship and songs – bang bang bang the full house. They roll on at 2:30am. The guitarist and drummer look like they’ve just been woken up 40 seconds before walking on. They then plug in. They then tear the place apart. With ease.

During the set around the time I am realising Friendly Fires fill enough detail into their songs and enough layers of intricacy only equalled by Dangermouse, and Kanye West I get accosted by a pro-pickpocket. All smiles and dynasty hair and dress. Odd? It is the eastern European accent, the “Is this Friendly Fires?” dumb approach, the scary blatant over enthusiasm for Piran that alerts me something is amidst. It is also that both hands are bound for my wallet and phone. Probably marked as an easy target waving my camera about, I nullify  any advance whilst keeping a firm hand over my wallet. Till the cosy façade turns to harsh iceberg and she turns to her accomplish “Let’s move on”. “Bye bye.

Friendly Fires played formidably and I’m looking forward to album number 2, hopefully album 2 will be bigger heavier and erm song-ier.

Here they are covering Baby It’s You. I like to think all great bands have the Beatles Live at the BBC in their collection. Don’t correct me.