SUPER FURRY ANIMALS

Eve White Reports on Super Furry Animals LIVE.
The first thing I remember thinking as I walked into the venue was how empty it was! Apart from one line of people across the front, there was no one to be found. True, Nicola and I had arrived about 30 minutes early, seeing as I’m such a big fan of the Super Furries. It was still a shock to the system walking into a hall almost completely empty, which only half an hour later would be exploding in a burst of strobes, videos and sound. There was a good side to this though; I was able to get a fantastic place, front row centre, about 1 meter away from my idol Gruff Rhys!

The support band, “El Goodo” turned out to be more like “El Crappo”, mainly due to the fact that no one could hear what the bass player was mumbling between each “song”. No wonder the place took such a long time to fill up. Although, saying that, they did have some support. By “support” I mean the 3 lads behind us who kept shouting “Pixie!” at a bemused looking singer. Sighing, Nicola pointed out their keyboard player, who seemed to be doing an Irish Jig to each song, and said, “at least they’ve got one nice looking member of the band. He looks so sweet!”. I had to agree with her, he was very cute!

Cheers, whistles and screams erupted throughout the hall as the lights went down…

Then Gruff appeared wearing a farmers jacket and a granddad cap, grinning and laughing, then stripped off to reveal a bomber –type jacket, leading the band into a stormin’ version of “Stooges”. The lighting was fantastic and strange and the stage was full of televisions and screens, every song being accompanied by a separate video. Everyone was singing along when they played a techno version of, “Sidewalk Serfer Girl” and for a while I thought they were going to miss out their older songs, plating the new material form “Rings Around The World”.

 

One after one the hits came, “Reseptical For The Respectable” being the craziest. Gruff introduced bloke wearing a John Lennon mask, as their “special guest” the two of them chewing celery for the percussion! (After this they changed guitars) Gruff sat down for the next number, giving me just enough time to yell his name. He looked straight at me! I stuck out my tongue bar (complete with Welsh flag) and he smiled and laughed! I was so psyched up after that!

Their version of “Nythod Cacwn” (which means “beehive”) was amazing! Seeing Gruff perform in Welsh was really strange, but well cool. I always thought the Welsh songs seemed more poetic and softer than those sang in English, but this time it was “Fire In My Heart” that touched Nic and I the most as it was played at our request! Gruff came right down close to us, much nicer looking in real life than in his photos, even Nic had to agree!

They then unleashed a set of belting numbers, “Do Or Die”, “Calimero”, “God Show Me Magic” and “Nightvision”. The crowd went ballistic. A moshpit formed behind us and I had to fight to keep my place at the front. Over and over I got a burly security guy in my face as they pulled headliners from the seething audience, when I got home I discovered bruises on my knees as a testament to the fierceness of it all. For their last number they played “ The Man Don’t Give A ****” Gruff swinging a long plastic tube over our heads for one of their strangest sound effect ever! I finally left the place with 3 shirts, a set list, a drumstick, a badge sheet and memories of a night I would never forget.

Reporter - Eve White

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