Fleet Foxes - ULU, London, 11/6/2008
by Chris O'Toole
published: 20 / 6 / 2008

intro
Fleet Foxes have received deafening acclaim for their wondrous harmonies and classic rock sound. On their first British tour at a packed show at the London ULU Anthony Dhanendran living up to the grand wave of expectation that has preceeded them
The hubbub of acclaim that follows Fleet Foxes' every deft footstep on this inaugural British tour is deafening. Pundits are handing out plaudits as though there were going out of fashion, heaping praise on the band's debut self-titled album by the truck load. In just a few short months the group have acquired a mystique and heritage well beyond their time on the stage, and excited a grand wave of expectation. This, perhaps, explains why this student union in the heart of London is filled to the rafters an hour before this evening's performance. The ULU has little in the way of grace at the best of times – the local speciality is a warm, over-priced, lager in a plastic cup – and this evening the venue is particularly on form, attempting to drown out support Beach House with their own sound. Everything is placed too high in the mix, leaving this three-piece ensemble - not lacking in subtlety and grace - to drown in their own oeuvre. The moment Fleet Foxes step onto the stage the sticky floors, over-cramped conditions and terrible sound all, however, disappear. The group have an immediate presence – opening with 'Sun Giant' - and their virtually a cappella introduction hushes the crowd in a moment. Their sound, in the live arena, is largely classic rock – but with the ends sanded down to form a beautiful amalgamation; including British and American folk heritage with touches of psychedelic colour. The imagery contained within the music is also a further draw; filled with vivid imagery of pastoral landscapes, distant mountain ranges and endless horizons. At the centre Robin Pecknold performs seated, the focus of the band. It is he that sets the tempo and direction of the performance, occasionally ushering his band into the wings and offering a solo, acoustic number. One such track is a cover of American singer-songwriter Judee Sill. Sill is infamous for her tortured, heroin-wracked voice, but Pecknold manages to imbue her 'Crayon Angels' with a tempered, knowing character. It is as though he has known the song all his life, merely keeping it a personal secret and releasing it only when the time is right. There is a great simplicity in the building blocks employed by Fleet Foxes. Voice is the main driving force of the group, with members frequently combining to create wondrous harmonies which would make other bands blush, but here are employed with beautiful resolve. Occasionally the group embellish this with a fully fledged bank, but the majority of the setting is provided by acoustic instruments only, giving the sound an honest, natural pose. Towards the end the young Pecknold jokes that he "spends most of his time in his bedroom", and offers customary platitudes, thanking the audience for their attendance. But, tonight at least, the pleasure is all the audience's and it looks as though the growing legion of fans won't allow Pecknold to hunker down in his basement for a moment longer.
Picture Gallery:-


live reviews |
Roundhouse, London, 22/2/2009 |
![]() |
At the Roundhouse in London Anthony Middleton discovers that much hyped Seattle-based group the Fleet Foxes' veneer of innocent charm has hidden and unchanneled depths in a perfect evening of music |
reviews |
Shore (2020) |
![]() |
First-rate new album from Seattle-based folk-rock act Fleet Foxes, which intended to be the first part of a larger project, takes its inspiration from several lost musical heroes |
most viewed articles
current edition
Spear Of Destiny - InterviewRobert Forster - Interview
Fiona Hutchings - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Chris Wade - Interview
Pistol Daisys - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Credits - ARC, Liverpool, 17/5.2025
Gary Numan - Berserker
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPBoomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Barrie Barlow - Interview
Manic Street Preachers - (Gig of a Lifetime) Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, December 1999
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Pixies - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
David Paton - Magic: The David Paton Story
Chuck Prophet - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
most viewed reviews
current edition
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a CircleGarbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Vinny Peculiar - Things Too Long Left Unsaid
Little Simz - Lotus
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
HAIM - I Quit
Morcheeba - Escape The Chaos
Vultures - Liz Kershaw Session 16.06.88
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart