Tonight, the massive Spring Fling concert comes to Richmond with a perfect representation of what alternative rock means in 2016.
Tonight, the massive Spring Fling concert comes to Richmond with a perfect representation of what alternative rock means in 2016. Four bands make up the stacked line-up with two of the bands, Cage The Elephant and Silversun Pickups, being some of the more well-known radio bands of this decade thus far.
The remaining two fans will recognize as emerging artists, bands that are still relatively new to the airwaves that have only recently begun to make a dent on the music landscape. For English band Foals though, it’s important to know that they’ve been making an impact in the music world far before radio hit “Mountain At My Gates” was even written.
Since forming over a decade ago, Foals have cemented themselves as one of the premier acts thanks to a wildly acclaimed live performance and studio records that shine a different light on their musical abilities. It’s not a matter of public opinion though as the band has racked up awards and notable consideration from the BRIT & NME Awards down to the Mercury Prize. This recognition though has mostly been overshadowed, and slightly unnecessary, as the band’s organic fanbase remains one of the largest and most fervent in the country. “I feel like our fanbase is very grassroots,” drummer Jack Bevan told us. “We have some awards here and there, but for the most part, we’re a band built on a fanbase that just naturally formed and consistently grew.”
Across four records, Foals have built their name and reputation in Europe and to those in the States following off-your-radar bands, but it wasn’t until 2013 that America got its first substantial, though brief, taste of Foals. The quartet scored a minor hit with “Inhaler” from their acclaimed junior record Holy Fire, but despite winning over the critical press, their subsequent single releases like “My Number” failed to continue the momentum. It would take almost two years for Foals to return to the American airwaves, but lucky for them, they didn’t return with any minor hits.
“Mountain At My Gates” was a surprise rock hit for 2015 and helped make the band’s fourth release What Went Down their biggest by far in the Western Hemisphere. It marked a shift for Foals’ sound as they embraced the heavier aspects of their record, even though it was something live fans had been well aware about for years now. “We always play heavier stuff live,” Bevan remarked. “It’s only the last two records where that heavier stuff makes it onto our records though, especially the last one.” Bevan continued that it was exciting for him to embrace his roots in the sense, noting his band before Foals, the cult math-rock band The Edmund Fitzgerald (that also featured Foals frontman Yannis Phillippakis), was known for the heavy aspect of its music and it was great to be able to show Foals off in this light now too.
Still, it wasn’t just the heavier elements of What Went Down that resonated with fans, but also a shift in Foals’ philosophy for their sound that yielded more potent and even diverse songs. “We were trying to polarize our sound to an extent,” the percussionist explained. “Make the heavier stuff heavier, but also make the quiet, more emotional songs a bit more raw.” Bevan pointed to a song like “Give It All” as a prime example, noting it’s spacious sound as an ambitious gamble for the band. It was a huge taste to undertake for the band on each song, but one they all committed to no matter what the cost. “Everyone just needed to know their role for each song and make the most of it,” Bevan continued. “Even if that means you take a backseat on this one, it’s fine because it means the song gets to go where it needs to.”
This concentrated approach has paid off handsomely for the band as they’re finally beginning to reach a level of success in America that they’ve enjoyed in England for years now. Most fans would naturally expect Foals to continue this vision, although Bevan isn’t quite sold on continuing with the style that brought them their success in the first place. “It’s dangerous to feel like you need to write a specific type of sound in order to carry on a trajectory,” he reasoned. “The likelihood is that the sound that got you there in the first place and worked in that time might just hold you back later. We have to continue to grow and find new ways to push Foals forward.”
Bevan admitted he has no idea what their next collection of songs will sound like it, but in the meantime, the band is still heavily engrossed in touring behind their current heavy sound and it’s not like they’re yearning for something new. “It’s been so much fun to add these new songs in to our set,” he exclaimed. “The title track especially has been a highlight of mine every night.” Richmond will get to see their excitement and musical chops at the Spring Fling tonight and though it’s a different environment from the usual headliners, it’s an experience the band has quickly become enamored with. “It’s been this really fun challenge for us,” Bevan said. “In the UK and Europe, we don’t do support tours anymore so it’s exciting to go out there and know we haven’t won over everyone in the crowd already. We’re not just playing to our fans and it’s exciting to know that we’re letting a good portion of these huge crowds know who we are and what we bring each night. It’s almost like we have something to prove again and it’s a welcome jolt to our live performances every night.”
Foals descend on Richmond tonight as part of the Spring Fling alongside alt-rock bands Cage The Elephant, Silversun Pickups, and Bear Hands. Tickets are still available starting at $29.50 and the doors for the event open at 6 PM with the show starting at 7 PM. For more information on the show, click here.
