Yannis Philippakis of Foals performs at Echostage on Nov. 3, 2016. (Photo by Theresa Sanchez)
“It’s been awhile since we played in D.C. I think, so ah, I remember the first time we played here we played to basically like to the equivalent of this nugget of people right here [points to the crowd packed in front of the stage]. Thank you so much for following the band and coming out,” said Yannis Philippakis.
If the aforementioned lead singer of Foals could stand still, would the music sound just as good? Probably. But that’s not the point of a live show. You can listen to their music on iTunes, YouTube, satellite radio, or any streaming service and you’d never come close to experiencing the way the music literally jumps off the stage and encompasses your entire being.
Their live performance is unparalleled and it’s baffling to me how this show wasn’t sold out. Maybe because people checked out the “About” section on the band’s Facebook page and don’t really understand sarcasm. The only way this music is “religious” is if you worship in the church of rock n’ roll. The “religious guilt” is strong here!
If you really want to know “What Went Down,” buy their new album of the same name, or better yet, catch them live. They’re at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago on Wednesday, November 9 and play their final two shows at the end of the month in Singapore and Hong Kong. Don’t miss them again!
Who are Foals?
- Yannis Philippakis – lead vocals and guitar
- Jimmy Smith – rhythm guitar, rhodes, synthesizer, and backing vocals
- Edwin Congreave – keyboards, synthesizer, and backing vocals
- Jack Bevan – drums and percussion
- Walter Gervers – bass, percussion, and vocals
They played for about 1.5 hours.
Watch Foals perform “Spanish Sahara” at Echostage on Nov. 3 (video by Theresa Sanchez):
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2RGtqTKMvU]
Setlist:
- Prelude
- Snake Oil
- Olympic Airways
- My Number
- Hummer
- Give It All
- Mountains at My Gates
- Providence
- Spanish Sahara
- Red Sox Pugie
- Late Night
- A Knife in the Ocean
Encore
- What Went Down
- Two Steps Twice
Watch Foals perform “Two Steps Twice” at Echostage (video by Theresa Sanchez):
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDkGWu4XaKE]
This was the 22nd stop on their Fall 2016 tour, the band’s fourth (and newest) studio album, released August 28, 2015. Kiev and Bear Hands opened for them. And no, they did not “kiss [Foal’s] ass.” Instead, they participated in some “neo-baboonery” while “letting the outside in and the inside out.”
Here are some pictures of Foals performing at Echostage on Nov. 3 (See the full set on Flickr):
