We here at TGTF like Friendly Fires…and like them an awful lot. So much that I feel the need to share with you UKers two videos from the band’s debut appearance on American late-night television, on a show called Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. This was their last performance stateside before heading back to England for an appearance at Reading/Leeds this weekend.

Their new single ‘Kiss of Life’ was a wee bit tentative at the start…

But by the time they got to ‘Jump in the Pool’, they were definitely right back in their element:

The expanded version of Friendly Fires’ debut album, including a live DVD and song remixes, will be released on XL Recordings in the UK on 31 August.

One of our favourite new bands of 2008, Friendly Fires have just announced their biggest UK Tour to date.

We caught them twice in 2008 – the first time at Hydro Connect, then at Oxford Academy.

Tickets for all dates go on sale at 9am on Friday (13th February).

Catch the talented dance rockers at:

Friday 24th April 2009 – Eastbourne Festival
Saturday 25th April 2009 – Bristol University
Monday 27th April 2009 – Manchester Academy 2
Tuesday 28th April 2009 – Wolverhampton Wulfrun
Wednesday 29th April 2009 – Norwich Waterfront
Thursday 30th April 2009 – London Forum
Friday 1st May 2009 – Southampton University
Saturday 2nd May 2009 – Brighton Digital
Sunday 3rd May 2009 – Birmingham Custard Factory
Tuesday 5th May 2009 – Leeds Met University
Wednesday 6th May 2009 – Edinburgh Studio 24
Thursday 7th May 2009 – Glasgow QMU

To find tickets, we suggest you try using Needtickets. Needtickets.com offers you the most comprehensive ticket service in the UK. With one click you can search every nationwide online ticket agent and as a result you can find tickets for any live music event that can be booked online. Every ticket is 100% guaranteed as Needtickets.com only offers links to official agents.

It’s been a pretty amazing year for music around the UK, and following on from my top 10 of 2007, here is my top 10 of 2008.

10 – Viva Stereo – Roar Lion Roar
You’ve probably not heard much about this Scottish collective. However, their third album was a surprise favourite for me – anthemic, accessible, slightly My Bloody Valentine and yet still so gorgeous.

Read more about Viva Stereo here.

Favourite: Knee High Boots.

9 – Sigur Rós – Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
As ever, an amazing collection from the Icelandic group. More pop than previous albums, their songs sound all the more amazing. I caught them live at Hydro Connect Festival in Scotland, where they preceded Franz Ferdinand and blew them out of the water. As the sun went down, they soundtracked the festival for us, showing their sense of humour and making beautiful music that had more than a few grown men in tears.

Favourite: Inní mér syngur vitleysingur

8 – Ra Ra Riot – The Rhumb Line
Dark in places, Ra Ra Riot come from the same school of musical geekiness as Vampire Weekend, but with a bit more serious and a bit less money. Dark in places, the group are still recovering from the death of their drummer in summer 2007, which shows on tracks like “Winter ‘05″.

Favourite: Dying is Fine

Read the rest of this entry »

Now, I’d heard of Friendly Fires before the festival, but didn’t know much about them, and having realised that they played during a lull in the afternoon’s proceedings (and after our little chat with Bloc Party), we decided to check them out – and they were amazing.

Playing the vast majority of their debut album (which came out yesterday, 1st September) throughout their set, they slowly drew in more and more people with their Klaxons / Killers hybrid and managed to make everyone dance much more than many of the previous bands on Saturday afternoon. Lead singer Ed Macfarlane danced around the stage like a slightly younger Klaxons, playing disco-rock whilst thrusting ecestatically.

“Jump in the Pool” received one of the biggest receptions of the set, as everyone danced like loons, even attracting those of the crowd who were easily old enough to remember rave the first time round, before it even became “nu-rave”.

After the jump: More big photos
Read the rest of this entry »

So, I’m trying a new thing this week: A “daily roundup” of everything that doesn’t merit a complete post of its own. It won’t be literally every day (I do go out sometimes you know), but will be a collection of new MP3s, Videos, music etc.

I first got sent Dan Black’s HYPNTZ back at the end of July, and fell in love with it, however couldn’t help but feel it was a tiny weeny bit too cheesy – sounded like some schoolboy rapper from North London trying to be ghetto. Then I heard it on Zane Lowe the other night and then heard the new one, “These Things Take Time”, which sounds like it has a sample of Nelly Furtado’s Maneater in it.

Dan says:

“I knew what kind of music I wanted make, but at first I found it hard to get these conflicting desires to blend well outside of my head. I’d been making these weird remix/mashups for my occasional Djing, so I thought, I’ll take the method I’ve been using for that but use it for song writing instead. The very first thing I tried was HYPNTZ.”

Download and enjoy.

MP3: Dan Black – HYPNTZ
MP3: Dan Black – These Things Take Time

We found out earlier this week that we’re off to Hydro Connect festival in Scotland next weekend, so you can expect a lot of coverage next week from the festival. However, this weekend of course is the mighty Reading and Leeds festivals, where many of the bands I’ll be catching next weekend are playing. Friendly Fires went down a storm, and I can’t wait to see their show after only getting into their album the other week. Meanwhile Crystal Castles caused chaos – I’m not a big fan of them musically, but might have to catch them just for the entertainment factor.

The two bands however that I’m looking forward to most at Hydro Connect are Sigur Ros and Bloc Party. Sigur Ros’ new video for ‘Inní mér syngur vitleysingur’ (‘Within me a lunatic sings’)is pretty bland, but my God I love that song! Next Sunday, as the sun sets around Inveraray I can see them completely capping my weekend, and providing an amazing atmposphere. Bloc Party’s album has been on repeat since I downloaded it yesterday morning at 9am – I’m yet to be as hooked as I was by “A Weekend in the City”, but it’s definately a grower (in a good way).

On a slightly different musical side of things, Dido has released a new song ahead of releasing a whole new album in early November. Needless to say, it sounds pretty much the same as her previous two albums of stuff, with a bit more musical accompaniment (is that an orchestra we hear?) Yes, some might say it’s bland and boring, but I love it.

MP3: Dido – Look No Further

Crystal Castles have been anounced to be playing the first ever NME New Noise Tour in May this year. They’ll be joined by Friendly Fires, Team Waterpolo and White Lies for the jaunt around the UK.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Tuesday 11th March) at 9am from See Tickets.

Friday 2nd May – Oxford Carling Academy
Saturday 3rd May – Bristol Thekla
Sunday 4th May – Norwich Waterfront
Monday 5th May – Brighton Concorde 2
Tuesday 6th May – Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Thursday 8th May – Birmingham Carling Academy 2
Saturday 10th May – Glasgow Arches
Sunday 11th May – Newcastle Carling Academy 2
Monday 12th May – Manchester Academy 2
Wednesday 14th May – London Mean Fiddler
Thursday 15th May – Stoke Sugarmill

This year’s Vice Live Tour has been announced, which sees Friendly Fires, Black KidsIpso Facto and all take to the road for four FREE shows.

To claim your tickets, you have to register over at Vice Live and then you can get your free tickets to one of the four shows around the country:

Wednesday 30th January – Glasgow ABC2
Thursday 31st January – Manchester Mint Lounge
Friday 1st February – London 93 Feet East
Saturday 2nd February – Bristol Fleece