Family Force 5 at The Garage
Family Force 5 – Relentless Garage – 4 August 2010
Words and Photo’s by Brendan Monteiro
For the few unlucky souls that didn’t manage to make the trek to Sonisphere this year the regret was a little more bearable that Family Force 5 stayed back to play an intimate show at The Garage. Minutes before show time and attendance is still relatively small for a band that conquered the main stage of Knebworth only 4 days prior but that doesn’t seem to have any effect on the crowd gathered. Minutes later the Olds brothers, Nathan and Derek take to the stage and ignite the crowd with Dance Or Die, it’s an electric start with all five members brimming with energy and it flows straight from one song to the next.
Songs like Kountry Gentlemen and Drama Queen sees Solomon flexing his vocals, he spits out his hip hoppy style verses like torpedos then turns on the agro button and screams and growls like an animal. His trademark hulk hands come out and it’s then that the superhero in him really starts to break out and whip the crowd into hysteria. Further more I wouldn’t be suprised if Solomon is the man to bring screaming into the mainstream and make it more commercially acceptable, he just has this magical way with it that makes it easy on the ears.
Derek Mount is ebullience personified, he literally runs circles around the stage with guitar in tow and is a show all on his own. Joshua is the human equivalent of an atomic bomb, blasting the airwaves with catastrophic rhythms that has the already frenzied crowd bouncing in the aftershock. Jacob might be slightly hidden towards the back, camouflaged amongst amps and banners but his presence is felt in every song. They’re sound has an overriding dance vibe to it but there is nothing electronic that can come close to the sound of real percussion and Jacob really is like a backbone to the driving rhythm.
They take the crowd through one hell of a party set and although I am a newby to Family Force 5 I can say in all honesty that every song sounded amazing. These guys just know how to throw a song together; mixing catchy chords, party beats and a proper feel good vibe all into the concoction. Often throughout the night and especially during Radiator they remind me of Marilyn Manson if Manson was fun. They have that big guitar edge with a lavish helping of techno/electronica and a dash of funk and tonight it’s the perfect recipe for a proper party. I caught one line from Keep The Party Alive
Your party is a zero
And I think that song really sums up what Family Force 5 are all about, they really do keep the party alive and to me it seems like Sonisphere was their “business in the front” and tonight was definitely their “party in the back”.
August 12th, 2010
I saw these guys at Creation East and let me tell you, they killed it. I was in shock. I was right up front and I fell in love all over again. Even though they had been up for the last forty-eight hours, they gave it all they got. One concert I’ll remember for a very, very, very long time.
August 14th, 2010
They were FAB at Sonisphere! My new guilty pleasure!