Fight Like Apes - Cardiff Barfly
Few achieve the individuality and variation that Fight Like Apes make look so easy.
Having missed them opening for The Prodigy a few months back, we were more than a little excited about catching rising Irish mob, Fight Like Apes in the more intimate surroundings of Cardiff's Barfly.
We arrive in time for Picture books In Winter to impress us with their fiery indie-rock. With a violin adding an extra layer to a host of good songs like 'Open Heart Surgery' and 'Horizontally I am Champion', livewire frontman Will Hitchins ensures a passionate delivery.
What we'd heard from fellow supports Underground Railroad hadn't impressed us much, but tonight is not a night to judge a band by its Myspace – PBIW present a harder edge than we expected, and while Underground Railroad don't knock is for six live, they do nearly knock us over by being so bloody LOUD! They don't have enough stand out songs yet, but once they do they'll be well worth the risk to your ears.
With only a smattering of EPs and one thirty five minute album to their name, that Fight Like Apes choose to start with one of their two finest songs isn't a worrying sign of things about to get boring, but a testament to their live skills. 'Something Global' packs more energy into under three minutes than should be possible, instantly dividing the crowd between those that know how much fun they're in for and those that don't, which means half the crowd looks on impressed or bewildered whilst the other half (RL included) jump and dance around like goons.
Perfect for a venue this size, FLApes have the ability to turn even their weaker songs into unforgettable live tracks. It means that their set feels driven by a band with a quality back catalogue to delve into rather than one pushing their début album. The songs barrel out with any combination of punk energy, pop melodies, heavy riffs, electro synths and walls of noise you could want for. And while a number of acts are trying something similar, few achieve the individuality and variation that Fight Like Apes make look so easy. There's bad dancing, moshing and raucous sing-alongs throughout – as much from the band as the crowd – and as they bring things to a close with the second of their best songs, the mesmerising 'Battleships', it's hard to imagine them going anywhere but upwards from here.Phillip May
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