Playing their biggest headline shows, Foals had the unenviable task of living up to a recently acquired reputation as Britain’s best live band over two nights at Ally Pally.
To their credit, they never once looked troubled during a protean performance under blazing lights that veered from the angular indie-pop of Total Life Forever to heavy metal funk on Inhaler.
Frontman Yannis Philippakis held it all together with a fervent rock star demonstration that included playing guitar atop a speaker stack and some excitable swearing. He gesticulated at the audience during My Number, though they didn’t need any prodding to respond to the mighty groove that provided the evening’s first huge tune.
Perhaps the Oxford group’s finest moment was the ambient-rock of Spanish Sahara, a counter-intuitive anthem that received screams of recognition from the opening note.
“Thank you for your love,” said Philippakis, clearly moved by the adoration for both recent material and reinvigorated old songs.
The love was forthcoming from one acrobatic man, who confidently stripped off and stood upon some obliging shoulders for a naked display that made for a unique encore. If their music can induce public nudity, Foals must be our best live band.
