Sunderland, England’s the Futureheads have not toured in the United States since shortly after the release of their self-titled debut album in 2006. So when I heard the band was heading back to the States in support of their latest LP The Chaos, I figured I’d better catch this band live while I had the chance.
Let’s face it: Monday night rock shows can be a little difficult on drawing crowds for visiting bands, and on this occasion the Paradise staff made a preemptive strike by closing the second floor balcony, resulting in an even more intimate night than usual for the 700+ capacity room.
The crowd was elbow-to-elbow by the time the Futureheads walked on stage. With Cheap Trick’s "Hello There" blasting from the club's P.A. system, the band quickly launched into their raucous opening number, the title track off of The Chaos.
Looking around the room, I was taken by the sheer passion and fervor the Futureheads were garnering from fans that, like me, had been waiting for this night for four years. This excitement was most evident when front man Barry Hyde split the club in half for a holler-off during the a capella opening of "Hounds of Love." I’m normally not one for concert singalongs, but even I got swept up in the moment.
The Futurheads delivered a raw and dynamic set, with the band cherry-picking their strongest material from each of their four albums. Highlights included the stage being flooded with red lights at Hyde’s request for a baleful version of "Sun Goes Down" and closing out the night on a stunning note with "Man Ray" amidst throngs of pogo-ing adults on a Monday night in Boston.
You have just three more chances left to catch the Futureheads on this brief North American jaunt. To the fine people of Toronto, Chicago and Detroit, see this band when they play your towns.
