More about: Fickle Friends

You can glean everything about the buoyant state of Fickle Friends from the moment their set opener sounds out. ‘Brooklyn’ was for, some considerable time, the group's flagship anthem and undisputed highlight. But tonight, it’s all done and dusted a few breathless minutes into their set.

If that sends out a bold message that the Brighton band are already well on their way to even bigger and better things, then it’s one that the rest of their performance seems to back up. 

The fact that that this intimate show at the 400-capacity Omeara sold out in 20 minutes having been announced the morning of the gig will have helped. But as the band return to the live arena after a break to write and record their second album, their calm confidence seems to stem from the sheer weight of great songs they now have at their disposal.

We’re treated to two glimpses of what album number two might hold as proceedings continue.  The first, ‘Pretty Great’, which singer Natassja Shiner tells us might well be their next single, is classic FF - infectious, irresistibly groovy and blessed with a giddy, unforgettable chorus.  But there are subtle twists: a few unexpected musical turns and a deeper sense of melancholy...lyrics contrast a life of partying with the discovery of a lover’s infidelity.

The second is more unexpected and even more thrilling. ‘Write Me A Song’ is a savage swipe at a music industry that values profit over expression, the lines “shut up and write me a song/that’ll make me lots of money/while I’m sitting at home” delivered with genuine anger over distorted guitars add unexpected punk rock energy. And it’s downright awesome.

The rest of the evening feels like a celebration. Singles like ‘Swim’ and ‘Glue’ - which they close the encore-less session with - sound like stadium anthems now and there are plenty of moments when it feels (and sounds) like every last person in the room is singing along to every word. With their central themes of love, lust and betrayal, plus the generally tricky nature of just being a normal human being in this messed up world, these songs clearly strike a chord with their young, 20-something crowd.

Arguably the best track, ‘Cry Baby’, makes a welcome return because as Shiner says: “it just doesn’t feel like a Fickle Friends gig without it.”  Take it to a lab, dissect it and you’ll see everything that makes this band great inside.  It’s got it all - dance elements like twisted bleeps and a monster funk bassline, a touch of 70s Fleetwood Mac and the distinct gated snares of 80s Duran Duran, exuberant rock guitars and a modern pop sheen so shiny that Taylor Swift could do her hair in its reflection.

After what seems like an instant, but in fact is a generous hour-and-ten-minutes, we spill out in the cold December air having felt privileged to have witnessed what will doubtlessly be an increasingly rare treat: catching a band as assured and surely destined for the arenas and stadiums of this world, at such close quarters. Bring on album two!

More about: Fickle Friends