Friendly Fires perspires as the Phenomenal Handclap Band perplexes in Los Angeles

August 24, 2009, at the El Rey Theatre

By Melissa Bobbitt
Published: August 27th, 2009 | 2:00pm

Flailing, gyrating, pogo-ing, sashaying, flagellating — all forms of dancing, both spastic and sexy, enveloped the El Rey Theatre on an otherwise typical Monday night in Koreatown. Rambunctious Brits Friendly Fires and New York oddballs the Phenomenal Handclap Band invaded the sleepy ethnic enclave as each brandished an energy all their own.

Up first was the PHB, an octet with equal footing in the '60s psychedelic movement and the neo-soul revival of the '90s. The combo was a peculiar one to behold and left attendees wondering whether they should mambo or stage a sit-in. Either way, the Phenomenal Handclap Band has a sound complementary of an altered state of mind. White-clad Jackson Browne look-alike Daniel Collas (keyboards/vocals) alternated between appearing dazed and bludgeoning his instrument like a piñata. Alongside him, chic singers Joan Tick and Laura Marin swayed to their own beats. Peppered throughout the stage were musicians who looked plucked from very divergent groups: a guru guitarist here, a flannel-wearing Band of Horses-type bassist there. The schizophrenia made for a so-so set — a concept a little too big for their sound at the moment.

Friendly Fires, on the other hand, are just the right fit for those skinny britches of theirs. The trio, accompanied by three tour mates on percussion and brass winds, has built quite an L.A. following for a year-and-a-half now. As such, they had the crowd at the sold-out El Rey show eating out of their sweaty palms for 11 fast-paced songs. They sprinted out of the gate with the New Wave gem "Lovesick." Singer/noisemaker Ed MacFarlane wiggled like a windup toy gone mad, yet still managed to bark out the lyrics without sounding winded. Not even pop artists who lip sync at their shows can boast that kind of finesse.

A band of few words, the chaps preferred to make things a nonstop party. They got a warm reception for a mature but still rocking new single, "Kiss of Life." Cowbells aplenty were banged, as was MacFarlane's head against his mic (purposefully) during the riotous "Photobooth." With all the frenetic vibes onstage, it was a wonder guitarist Edd Gibson didn't bean his mate in the skull. (He did, however, abuse the heck out of his instrument, scratching the pickups for the more subdued number "Strobe" and taking a small household appliance to it for the massive encore, "Ex Lover.") With the animated drummer, Jack Savidge, rounding out the threesome and their constant touring on the strength of their self-titled debut (to be re-released August 31 on XL Recordings), these fiery fellows have definitely got a ton of friends in L.A.

—

For more photos from this show visit Venus Zine’s Flickr page

Friendly Fires MySpace page

The Phenomenal Handclap Band MySpace page

XL Recordings