Tonight’s line up consists of Red Bull Bedroom Jam winners IDivide, New Jersey’s Major League, New York’s Such Gold, and last but not least, hometown heroes Funeral For A Friend. All three support bands do a stellar job of warming up for South Wales’ sweethearts, but especially Such Gold, who have a well deserved buzz around them at the moment. Keep an eye out.
With support bands aside, Funeral For A Friend are the main act tonight and the reason everyone is here. Clwb Ifor Bach is a venue that’s a lot smaller than this band is used to, but the point of this tour is to go back to basics and play intimate venues all around the UK. Tonight is the release night of FFAF’s new album ‘Conduit’ and it’s a chance for them to try out the new tracks on their audience, as well as throw out some golden oldies.
Opening with one of their older hits, ‘She Drove Me To Daytime Television’, is a fantastic choice and reflects how Funeral For A Friend have come almost full circle from their earlier, heavier days. Tonight they mix older hits with new songs off ‘Conduit’ and it’s clear to see that FFAF are in the best place they’ve been in a long time. With new drummer Pat Lundy (previously of Rise To Remain), the band seem to work together incredibly well, and the music itself is fresh and raw and full of passion.
Throwing in hits like ‘Red Is The New Black’ and B-side ‘You Want Romance?’ quenches the older fans’ thirst and fits with their new/old sound. Tonight’s setlist is the perfect mixture of old and new and shows that Funeral For A Friend still have relevance in the music world 12 years after forming. Ending on their biggest hits, ‘Juneau’ and ‘History’, goes down an absolute storm and it’s safe to say that tonight has been a success. Funeral For A Friend have got some life left in them yet.
LAIS MW