The futureheads

Subject: The futureheads
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 04:38 AM

I've just come across this band - does anyone know much about their current activity? Their acapella version of Beeswing is something else.

R

Subject: RE: The futureheads
From: GUEST,Eileen
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 05:03 AM

Band is from Sunderland. They have a website with details of upcoming gigs. They play some local gigs - have one this weekend in Sunderland. They have recently 'found' folk music and recorded an acapella CD.

Subject: RE: The futureheads
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 08:48 AM

I think it's a great album; it includes versions of The Keeper and The Old Dun Cow as well as Beeswing, not to mention some of their own songs & some contemporary covers.

It's not been universally welcomed, it has to be said. Ian "No, Not That One" Anderson took it as the cue for an unusually grumpy thread on fRoots about singaround standards that have worn out their welcome, including The Keeper and The Old Dun Cow. (There are probably some songs everyone would rather not hear again, but personally I wouldn't include either of those - not least because I've never actually heard The Keeper sung live.) As for their take on Beeswing, a friend of mine (who is a huge Richard Thompson fan) commented, "I'd never heard that. And now I wish I'd never heard that." (I like it, though.)

Subject: RE: The futureheads
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 10:58 AM

www.thefutureheads.co.uk

www.myspace.com/thefutureheads

Subject: RE: The futureheads
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 11:17 AM

The name sounded vaguely familiar; like maybe a 1990's Techo / Rave DJ Dance collective...???

But, nope, Wiki says they're actually a quite recent youngish New Wave Agit Pop revivalist band..

Their influences being the crucial bands of my late teens / early 20's way back 3 decades ago...

As it is, I can't think of a single track or aspect of this band that's ever caught my attention.

Not exactly as memorable as even Franz Ferdinand...


But they now follow in the footsteps of the Chumba's post punk to folk conversion..

So good luck to 'em..

I'll now make the effort to listen to whatever Futureheads I can find online....

Subject: RE: The futureheads
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 11:49 AM

ok, I'm working my way through the 1st verse and chorus of everything on Youtube..

from the top of the page down, but not necessarily in chronological order...???

For the most part generic pop revivalist new wave
like you get on loads of Hollywood teen comedy soundtracks;
but with a northern Brit accent..

But interestingly, like XTC before them,
gradual hints indicating a progressing inclination toward incipient 'folkyism'..

Not listened to any of the new CD of acapella trad folk yet, saving that to last.

Subject: RE: The futureheads
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 12:04 PM

well TV acoustic sessions clips demonstrate they can definitely sing and harmonise with confidence & ability,

Disturbingly, from some angles the lead singer looks like a younger slimmer David Cameron !!!???

..and... I've now reached the first video clip of the Traddie material...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxqm24MTdBs


hmmmm... not bad at all


To my mind, instant appraisal, much better than the mumfords
and arguably benefiting from an aprenticeship banging & crashing away on electric guitars
and drums for a good few years in a 'punk' band....

Subject: RE: The futureheads
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 12:13 PM

They remind me a bit of the flying pickets in their approach to covering the instrumental side as well as the vocal in their unaccompanied arrangements.

R

Subject: RE: The futureheads
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocer
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 12:34 PM

..a few more live acapella clips later..

Yes, and to me they also exude a similar sense of high spirit & fun with the songs
as probably the most influential inspiration for my life of punkfolkyness "Jack the Lad"
when they first emerged on kid's TV music shows back around 1974/5...