LIVE REVIEW: Funeral For A Friend @ O2 Academy, Bournemouth

Tonight the O2 Academy Bournemouth is filled with a mixed-bag crowd. Affection for tonight’s headliners runs deep, with Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation, the first album from FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND, having been released almost 20 years ago now. In the room are people who have loved this band since being a teenager, who now maybe even have kids of their own. Then there’s the mid 20 twenties kids, who were just around to see Roses For The Dead still being played on Kerrang! and Scuzz. And dotted around, are teenagers and the early-twenties gang, who maybe nicked a sibling’s CD, or saw them in that odd year of Into Oblivion (Reunion) being played on Coronation Street, with the band performing alongside MCFLY and MAROON 5 at T4 On The Beach… Now, seven years after their last release, the band take their fans through a time capsule evening, playing tracks exclusively off their first three records.

Opening the bill is STATIC DRESS, a band that any alternative music fan can’t ignore right now. The band seem to appearing on every tour lineup. They’ve played with KNOCKED LOOSE, HIGHER POWER, CREEPER, COUNTERPARTS and various festival bills from Reading to Outbreak. Perhaps part of this is the MySpace revival-core element to their music. That is not to say that they are just a hype-band, or disingenuous with their sound. Rather, it’s a tall feat to carry off the task of blending musical styles into something that ends up sounding so much your own.

And STATIC DRESS do that. It’s this characteristic that makes them so versatile and suitable for such a huge range of shows. They’ve made their own definition of post-hardcore, and it carries off incredibly well in these larger venues on this tour. Olli Appleyard doesn’t hold back for this set, screeching into his microphone as drummer Sam Ogden collides with his kit. It’s clear from tonight’s set that this is not a band that will struggle to sound good as they get booked for bigger tours. They close their set with single clean., playing the isolated “woahs” as they leave the stage. It’s a strong image for things to come from them, as their frantic stage presence demands attention and a warm reception.

Rating: 7/10

It’s only fitting that HOLDING ABSENCE act as main support for this tour. This band will have you thinking there must be something in the Welsh water. The band’s second album, ‘The Greatest Mistake Of My Life, saw them move slightly more into the warmer, optimistic elements of their sound from their debut self-titled record, while still holding those capabilities to add in distorted vocals and discordant guitars. That slight shift shows into tonight’s performance. They perform as though everyone in the room is there exclusively for them, commanding the venue right from the moment the ambiance kicks in on opener Celebration Song. Vocalist Lucas Woodland is unable to hide his delight at seeing a decent chunk of the crowd signing every word back at him. Guitarist Scott Carey darts about his side of the stage, amping up the space that has opened up in the crowd for Like A Shadow and Gravity.

They surprisingly close with fan-favourite Wilt from their first album, a seven minute track. It’s a testament to the band that they can do this, and do it so effortlessly and with much success. They charge through the song, from the ambient intro to the reserved bridge with final chorus explosion. They play with such devotion and affection, that it’s clear to see why they are met with the same adoration from their fans, even when they’re not headlining.

Rating: 9/10

FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND open their set with All The Rage – and their performance is just that. They haven’t slowed down whatsoever since their reign over the emo scene in the mid noughties. They sound just as riff-fuelled and massive as they did back then. They have the same polished sound as they do on record, but with more rigor. Their set feels nostalgic but not stagnant, blasting through many fan favourites and deep cuts from their first three albums. The setlist is a reminder of just how huge this band were, and how many ‘bangers’ are saturate their discography, including non-singles that are firm cult-favourites.

Matthew Davies-Kreye delivers his lyrics with he same mannerisms as though 2007 never left us, conducting his audience to fill in the gaps and charismatically pointing as he delivers the line “your white wending dress” for debut album Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation‘s opener Rookie of the Year. It’s clear their fanbase still hold these songs deep-rooted as the entire room sings along to the group vocal harmonies.

FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND seem self-aware, as Matt jokingly introduces songs based on hype-factor, almost toying with the crowd. He prefaces The Great Wide Open from the band’s third album Tales Don’t Tell Themselves with a brief speech stating “now some of you like this album, some of you don’t…” – a true statement, but he delivers it with such charm that even those in the crowd clearly there in favour of the hugely successful Hours album nod their heads, and probably know a line or two to join in with too.

The entire night is a reminder of how hugely important the Welsh outfit were for so many. Just looking around the room reveals moments of elation on numerous fan’s faces, particularly as they bring out some of their hit songs such as Juneau and Streetcar. The band also take moments to interact and speak to the audience, with Matt saying with real venom, “fuck Vladimir Putin”. He sounds genuinely shook up, as he asks why the world is allowing the current political climate to happen, and talks of the community live music gives us with a response of roaring applause.

The encore is an absolute slap in the face of nostalgia for all. The band whittle off Into Oblivion (Reunion), Roses For The Dead, and then History, as though it’s just a brush off the shoulder. This is a band with so many well-loved ragers in their toolkit, that still sound so faultless and are still so adored to this day, that FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND prove their stays as heavy-hitters for post-hardcore/emo, almost two decades on from their inception.

Rating: 9/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Bournemouth from Dev Place Photos here: