The vast quantities of complicated rigging adorning the normally sparse stage at London’s Kings College were the first sign that Friendly Fires final gig of an expansive UK tour was going to be something a bit special. The G-Forces at work as the St Albans boy tore headlong into joyously upbeat opener Photobooth were the second. But the sight of rubber-hipped frontman Ed MacFarlane jumping into the crowd with both guitar and mic-stand in hand as early as track two, Your Love, was definitely the clincher.

From that moment on the party atmosphere in the crammed venue was assured, and as security assisted a sweaty MacFarlane back on stage, the band exchanged playful 'love it when a plan comes together' glances and rather gave the game away. Clearly pleased with the effect their lightning bolt of a opening had on a crowd now baying at the bands every move, Friendly Fires responded by simply cranking things up a notch further. Working their way through their recent eponymous debut LP, track after track was delivered with a joyful eagerness admirable in a band who must now have played this set more times than they’d care to remember. Performed with such raw energy and assured abandonment, the electro-indie-pop of their recorded material remarkably sounds at once, both rockier and dancier, and it’s simply irresistible.

Drenched in strobe lighting, and awash with tickertape, fired from onstage cannons, the crowd bounces, thrashes and holds their arms aloft where appropriate. Never once allowing the momentum to drop, Friendly Fires masterfully play the crowd from start to finish and it’s difficult to imagine how they could top the wave of euphoric brilliance that is signature track Paris, which leaves the panting masses wondering how much more they can realistically take. But the Fires are just getting started.

Eschewing the encore pantomime that would certainly have disrupted the flow of this party, (and by now that’s what it is - this stopped being a gig by track three) the boys instead pull something very different out of the bag. During a vastly elongated version of Jump In The Pool everyone in the crowd is surely as stunned as me to see a five piece steel band and two feather-adorned dancing girls take to the tiny stage and twist the song into a stylish samba send off, to end the night on an incredible high.

Carnival by the Thames in October, and the only people enjoying it more than the crowd tonight, are the band themselves. Brilliant stuff.

Review by WINSTON'S ZEN
Good music finds inner peace...