Live Review

The Futureheads – Roadmenders, Northampton

• 21st May 2010

The Futureheads rolled into Northampton to conclude their 14 date tour in high spirits and found an equally responsive Roadmender crowd.

Kicking off proceedings with the opening call to arms – ‘5,4,3,2,1, Lets Go’ from new album ‘The Chaos’, the band meant business and were all to eager to show just that. Recent single ‘Heartbeat Song’ followed and led the sold out crowd into a sweaty sing-a-long. Taking time out between songs to banter with fans, Barry Hyde and co were on good form and got the place rocking with ‘Decent Days and Nights’ from their eponymous debut album. The good thing about a Futureheads gig, is that if you dont like a song, you need not worry as the next one will be along in about 3 minutes time to get your feet tapping again.

The set was mainly divded between tracks from their first and most recent albums, with ‘Skip to the End’ and ‘Begining of the Twist’ the most notable exceptions. The highlight of this, and any Futureheads gig, was their genius take on Kate Bush’ ‘Hounds of Love’. The 2 support acts entered the stage to be divided between Barry Hyde and Ross Millard as backing vocalists, sharing the ‘oh uh oh’s’ as usual with each half of the audience, to great affect, throughout a high tempo, not perfect recital.

The Futureheads have thankfully gone back to the formula that made them oh so popular in the first place and they are all the better for it. This is certainly a band that is getting back to the top of their game.