Monday 08/11/10 Foals @ Brighton Dome, Brighton

Walking into the Dome has an elegant vibe compared to most venues as you enter the elaborate foyer before reaching the theatre. The room filled up quickly as support act Crystal Fighters begin. The energetic Spaniards seem impossible to describe as their content had aspects of everything from punk to ‘90’s disco to folk which definitely provided entertaining viewing, making them the perfect support band.

Keeping to the theatre feel the change over felt like an interval as the lights went up and everybody headed to the bar. The lights went down and a cheer broke out as headliners Foals took to the stage. Opening with 'Blue Blood 'sparked an intense moment before the crowd sang back the chorus. For me, Foals are always a pleasant surprise, they always exceed my expectations and on this blustery Monday night they did it again.

After previously touring with a brass section this time they were back to basics yet they could not have sounded bigger. Material from their latest record 'Total Life Forever' really came to life whilst songs from 'Antidotes' felt reborn. The ever-energetic leader Yannis Philipakis ran around like he own the stage as well as spending in the former home-town crowd, claiming to have written one of the band's first singles 'Cassius' when they were living in the seaside city.

The audience consisted of everybody aged 15 to 55, Radio 1 listeners to 6music fans, which shows the diversity of the band who have gone from strength to strength. The delicate Spanish Sahara sounded epic as it built up into a crescendo so big it made neck hairs rise. The material from their debut record were the main highlights, especially for the encore. Foals are not ones to leave quietly as they end with the formidable 'Two Steps, Twice' that saw the front-man climb up to the balcony and strolled around the upper level with his guitar before landing back on stage to complete the song and the set.

The future direction of the band will be interesting as the move from the debut to the follow-up was massive.