Walking into a venue the size of the Picture House and seeing an act so short in personnel as Wax Stag is an unusual thing – but when that act consists of a man at a drum kit playing along to an electronic backing, well, the whole situation becomes completely surreal.
Somehow it works for Wax Stag, although his danceable output seems impossible to fathom as anything other than a warm up act.
Hockey occupy the other end of the spectrum of suitable support acts for Friendly Fires. They look exactly like a normal skinny-jeaned guitar band with keyboards, but they’ve got rhythm and soul that doesn’t just make them fit in nicely on this bill but almost steal the show.
The crowd were receptive to Wax Stag, but by the end of Hockey’s opening number ‘Work’, the room is rapturous. There are so many hands in the air that you’d think the largely school-age crowd’s teacher was on stage asking who wants to go on a trip to Alton Towers.
Front man Benjamin Grubin appears to be completely hyper, running around the stage as if a swarm of wasps are after him – which makes his gripping vocal performance all the more impressive. New single ‘Learn To Lose’ is a particular highlight.
By the time Friendly Fires come on stage, it’s impossible to imagine how this rammed gig was ever supposed to fit in Studio 24 – and contrary to their reputation, the Edinburgh crowd are on stunning form. Heads bop, hips shake and feet tap all the way from the front to the back.
It’s clear why this band featured highly in so many top album polls last year, especially in the way the crowd respond with equal enthusiasm for almost every song they play. Only ‘Paris’ is greeted with notably more love.
A distracting overuse of lights slightly mars an otherwise very enjoyable, feel-good show with an atmosphere most bands would kill to be able to create.