Foals Returns to DC

As far back as I can remember, videogames and music have been integral parts of my life; and as I’ve come to recognize, they have often been intertwined. This past Tuesday night I saw those two strands unravel across the Anthem stage, as Alt-Rock powerhouse Foals lit up DC for 90 electrifying minutes. Having had their music featured in more than 10 videogames, [including] FIFA (09’,14’,16’,20’), Midnight Club: LA, MLB The Show, and many more; Foals has been engrained in my music vocabulary for longer than I’d ever known. Joining the British superstars in the opening slots were Glove and Inner Wave.

Glove performing live at The Anthem in Washington, DC

This, my first-time hearing both Inner Wave’s and Glove’s music, I was pleasantly surprised by the vibes they brought. Inner Wave is probably one of the lushest bands I’ve heard in a while; there’s a smooth, creamy sort of slow indie funk psychedelia that, in person takes on a real fever dream vibe; and if I’m being honest, I could say something of the same about Glove. There eerie synth-tinged brand of post punk is uniquely familiar (think Joy Division, B-52’s, Bowie?). Foals has been more alt than conventional as far as I can remember, bringing on support that plays to those different sounds is simply excellent curating.

Inner Wave performing live at The Anthem in Washington, DC

Our headliners came out hot; opening with the funk dripped hit “Wake Me Up”, [Foals] jolted the crowd to life with the flip of a switch. From there the adrenaline ride rose higher and higher; There’s no letup in these guys’ energy, once it’s on, it’s on. Front man and bonafide rockstar Yannis Philippakis is a man that requires no help in the way of showmanship. From walking through the crowd, engulfing himself in a sea of clamoring fans, to drowning a beer and shredding licks from atop booming speakers in the photo pit, [Philippakis] is a rockstar in every sense of the word.

Foals performing live at The Anthem in Washington, DC

Hearing all those other unmistakable classics (The Runnner, Olympic Airways, Mountain at My Gates) was nothing short of surreal. I can only hope that this was just the first of many Foals shows in my future; it’s certainly not an experience I could see myself tiring of.


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