Review: Foals supported by Warpaint at Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, July 15th, 2019
For fans of indie-rockers Foals, it has been an agonising three-year wait since they were last on our shores, having appeared at the 2015/16 edition of Falls Festival as part of the touring for their What Went Down album.
Since then, a bit has changed for the band. While founding bassist Walter Gervers announced his departure, the group revealed earlier this year that 2019 would see the release of two, – that’s right, two – new albums.
After unleashing Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost – Part 1 back in March, the indie-rock icons soon found themselves on the Splendour In The Grass lineup, with a handful of headline dates in tow.
Now, with Splendour week well and truly underway, Monday night saw the group hitting up Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena for one of their biggest performances in the country to date.
Check out Foals’ ‘In Degrees’:
As the crowd slowly made their way into the main floor of the Margaret Court Arena, they were met by the immersive sound of Los Angeles’ Warpaint, whose immersive, luscious sound made them an instant favourite for many in the audience.
Returning for their first Aussie date in two years, the quartet quickly got to work delivering stunning soundscapes and atmospheric jams, with their hypnotic music seeming to even work its magic on the members themselves, with the band appearing to get lost in their own songs from time to time.
With strobing lights at every turn, and a few casual jokes between songs (including the benefits of renaming the venue the “Tina Arena Arena”), it was clear that we were having as much fun watching the band as they were performing for us.
Songs such as ‘Bees’ perfectly showcased their brilliant abilities, with the opening melodies inviting you in, before the smooth vocals get you hooked, and the pounding drums (of the exceptional Aussie-born Stella Mozgawa) and slick guitars come together in a masterstroke that absolutely devastates you with their brutal presence.
While at times fans had to almost pinch themselves to not lose themselves in the band’s music, it was clear that Warpaint’s return to Aussie shores was a very welcome one, with their longtime and newfound fans leaving the opening set hungry for so much more.
Check out ‘Disco//Very’ by Warpaint:
As the excitement of Warpaint slowly turned itself towards the evening’s main attraction, the main floor of the venue slowly filled up, appearing to reach peak capacity by the time that England’s Foals made their long-awaited return to the Aussie stage.
With nothing but an en eager wave to fans, the group quickly jumped into the night’s festivities, giving us a taste of their latest album with ‘On The Luna’. Almost immediately, the intensity felt as if it had reached fever pitch, with a massive wall of sound greeting our ears, as the band performed against a backdrop of trees featuring lights shining from every angle.
With vocalist and guitarist Yannis Philippakis belting out the lyrics like his life depending on it, slick chords and pounding drum beats quickly gave way to a throbbing sea of fans, who pulsed up and down as the classic sounds of ‘Mountain At My Gates’ filled the air.
“I know it’s a Monday, but let’s make it a magic Monday,” Philippakis joked with the crowd, ensuring that none of his energy was wasted by transitioning from ‘Snake Oil’ into ‘Olympic Airways’ from their 2008 debut.
While fans were undoubtedly enjoying hearing snippets of new material, it was easy to see where their hearts lay, as the singalongs clearly got louder and more enthusiastic during either the singles, or fan-favourites.
Check out Foals’ ‘Inhaler’:
As Foals continued through a set that leaned heavily on their new record, while still showcasing their previous albums, they segued between tunes with ease, surprising fans by slipping into ‘My Number’ without warning, and clearly leaving them unprepared for the moshing it warranted.
While classics like ‘Spanish Sahara’ and ‘Red Socks Pugie’ got a look-in, it became rather obvious that the band’s new material is indeed already on its way to becoming a future favourite of fans, with the likes of ‘In Degrees’, ‘Exits’, and ‘White Onions’ proving some of the slickest and most immersive moments of the night.
Of course, as the band ticked off the hits from their setlist, they came to the eventual end of the main set. “You ready to get rowdy Melbourne?” Yannis Philippakis asked the crowd before jumping into 2012’s beloved anthem ‘Inhaler’. “Let’s fucking do it, it’s now or never, baby.”
Before long, Philippakis was bringing himself into the crowd, circling the audience with his guitar before raising the excitement with this phenomenal track. As the riffs flowed, the energy rose, and the crowd themselves expressed themselves with intensity, it was clear that the band were far from done, with a new a newly-presented backdrop indicating there was still more to come.
Wrapping things up with monstrous encore versions of ‘What Went Down’ and ‘Two Steps, Twice’, Foals’ eager fans made it clear that the could perform a show of this calibre every single night, and the crowd’s love of them would never for a single second wane.
With a penchant for delivering some of the most exciting and enduring tracks in recent indie-rock history, fans are clearly looking forward to hearing Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost – Part 2 when it drops later this year.
Sadly, no forthcoming tracks got a look-in during the band’s Aussie return, meaning that Foals will just have to come on back as soon as the new record drops, right? Either way, if they deliver another show like this, there won’t be a single complaint heard.
Foals continue their Aussie tour with appearances in Sydney and Perth over the coming days, and an appearance at Splendour In The Grass this Friday. Check out the details below.
Check out Foals’ ‘What Went Down’:
Foals @ Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne 15/7/19 Setlist
‘On The Luna’
‘Mountain At My Gates’
‘Snake Oil’
‘Olympic Airways’
‘My Number’
‘Black Gold’
‘Sunday’
‘Syrups’
‘Providence’
‘Spanish Sahara’
‘Red Socks Pugie’
‘Exits’
‘In Degrees’
‘White Onions’
‘Inhaler’
Encore:
‘What Went Down’
‘Two Steps, Twice’
Foals Australian Tour 2019
(Remaining Dates)
Wednesday, July 17th
Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, NSW (All Ages)
Tickets: Secret Sounds
Sunday, July 21st
Metro City, Perth, WA (18+)
Tickets: Secret Sounds
Also appearing at Splendour In The Grass
Friday, July 19th
Byron Bay, NSW
