Foals live at Cardiff Castle. Support Acts: Islet and Everything Everything
I was excited to see Foals perform live at Cardiff Castle, my first post-lockdown concert and the band's first performance in 18 months. I was a bit nervous about going to the gig; it seemed surreal to be stood in a crowd considering the restrictions we have faced over the past year. Everyone attending the performance was required to provide a negative lateral flow test and fill out a test and trace form before gaining entrance, with security checking that things ran smoothly. Once we were in, the first support act was getting the crowd ready for a night of live music. Welsh band Islet has previously supported Foals and provided a strong performance, with powerful vocals and an array of percussive instrumentation getting the crowd excited for the following acts. The second act of the evening came from Everything Everything, a band that I have wanted to see live for so long. Their performance was incredible, with lead vocalist Jonathan Higgs displaying his effortless falsetto vocal range and the band's fantastic discography. They played some fan favourites such as 'Distant Past' and 'Spring/ Sun/ Winter/ Dread' in addition to songs from their latest album.
The crowd were starting to gather as the sun slowly set behind Cardiff Castle, setting the mood for the headline act. At around half eight, Foals arrived on stage shrouded in a blue mist, a dramatic entrance that got the crowd excited for the first song. I have seen Foals perform on TV and knew that they would deliver a strong performance, but nothing could have prepared me for the beautiful visuals and electric atmosphere that came with the set. It truly felt euphoric and at times emotional as the lyrics of 'Spanish Sahara' reverberated across the grounds "Forget the horror here/Leave it all down here/It's future rust and it's future dust". The relevance of the lyrics continued with the uncertainty of the future echoed in 'Black Gold', taken from the band's second album 'Total Life Forever' with Yannis Philippakis (lead vocalist) lamenting "The future is not what it used to be".
The band surprised the crowd with an exclusive performance of their brand new single 'Novo', an 80's inspired track that builds upon the disco vibe featured on 'In Degrees'. After a two hour set, the Oxford quartet ended on a high with stunning lasers beaming through the crowd and extending across the field. It was a night that I will never forget. An important moment for the return of live music, and a step towards our new sense of normality. Foals were outstanding, giving the audience an atmospheric and energetic performance. I felt lucky and was glad to be there in person and experience a live performance. As I exited the castle gate with thousands of other fans, I finally realised how much I had missed live music. Maybe the future isn't what it used to be, but I hope that we never have to experience the silence of venues ever again.
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