Echoes and dust

August 20 2008 @ Waterrats, London.

Last night I finally got the chance to see Future Of The Left live. ‘Curses’ has been a constant soundtrack to my drunken bus journey's, and my determined gait as I ponder the different ways to kill other Londoners for about, ooh 12 months now. So it was with a mix of anticipation and childlike enthusiasm that I barged my way to the front of Water Rats to catch a glimpse of the Welsh three piece. However, when 'the kids' started rocking out I was swiftly demoted towards the rear of the throng - a position more befitting my age.

Usually when you go to a gig with such high expectations, you're left sorely disappointed and deflated, a bit like the feeling after a one night stand with a super model (not that I'd know but I've been told). However, not on this occasion. They were so good I made stains. From one grumbling assault to the next, FOTL slayed us all.

Not only were the tunes filled with the venom and viciousness of a sack full of cobras, but the between song banter almost made me wet myself with laughter. Topics that were covered included the Olympics (Britain are only good at middle class events where you have to be able to afford the equipment), an audience member (threatened to be fisted without lube) and most prominently Reverend And The Makers (‘makers of what? Shit music that's what’). No more has anyone hated a band since I decided that if AIDS could hold a guitar it would be renamed The Feeling! Anyhow, I digress.

Every track was a blistering assault on the ears and the bass encouraged motions in my stomach that I haven't experienced since the morning after my girlfriends attempt at making crab and prawn vindaloo. ‘The Lord Hates A Coward’ made me scream at the top of my lungs, much to the annoyance of my aforementioned beau. ‘adeadenemyalwayssmellsgood’ had been a track I've wanted to see live for so long since I saw a live version on youtube, and it did not disappoint. ‘Manchasm’ was another highlight and with the grumbling bass tearing apart my sphincter you have to wonder how bigger bands get away with such poor sound in great venues (Butthole Surfers we're looking at you). Basically, I could just reel off each track that they played and gush about how tight, loud, vicious and perfect each was.

The encore saw Kelson and a large portion of the audience swap places, as he moshed his way towards the back of the venue and the audience and support act Fighting With Wire started thwacking Egglestone's drums.

At one point Falkous protested that the audience response was 'generous applause which flatters our mediocre performance', a comment that was about as right as Gary Glitter hosting Playschool - everything about the performance last night was perfect, from the visceral, minatory attack of the tunes to the venomous and barbed inter song banter. This is one band that you should not miss. If you have small children then sell them into child labour, if your nan is alive then Ginsters pay good money for meat fillings, in short - do anything that you can just make sure you see this band.