Futureheads - A capella - Union Chapel, London - 04/04/12

After being a Futureheads fan since the first album the opportunity to see them for the third time doing something "off the wall", a bit odd (according to modern music "rules") was far too good to turn down.

I booked tickets with a few friends after only hearing the one song, on BBC radio 6, from the new album. The decision was a cracker!

We arrived at the venue, the first time I'd been to the legendary chapel in Islington, to be greeted by a member of the band behind the merch table & teas, coffee & juice available from a small hole in the wall. Just an incredible change from the beer stench that usually greets one at a venue.
Support, provided by The Cornshed Sisters, was great. A group of ladies from the north east, playing some lovely folk songs with a twist. Great personalities on stage & a post-gig album listen proved they are a class act.

After a short break we got to the main action. A capella awesomeness. The lads in the band have never been short of stage presence, well, except the poor drummer, and it showed as they took to the stage with no instrumentation to hide behind & shared good banter & japes with the large crowd. I think they played most, if not all of the songs from the new album but having only listened to it a few time pre-gig I can't be sure. Also thrown in where stunning versions of classic Futureheads songs including their huge hit, Kate Bush's Hounds of Love. My favourite probably being Decent Days & Nights. Another song of note was Beeswing, a Richard Thompson cover, which was just stunning.
For me the song that stole the show was Old Dun Cow. A song very familiar to me from my childhood, when my dad used to sing the entire song on his guitar. Sung as a round, it had audience participation, great lyrics & just seemed to suit the atmosphere & general feeling in the chapel at that moment.

The band were joined later in the evening by a choral group & The Cornshed Sisters who filled the chapel with some lovely vocal harmonies. Just what this wonderful building was built to sound like. Filled with wonderful choral music which was hair-raisingly good

Overall, the gig went down a storm. From the choice of venue, to the set list it was excellent. I will remember it for a very long time as one of the most surprising yet satisfying gigs I've ever had the privilege to be witness to.

Fantastic lads. 4.5/5