Foals occasionally draws comparisons to Coldplay, but their compositions and performances are characterized by greater technicality, intensity and danceability despite a smattering of musical similarities. Even in slow-burn songs off their last record, like “Spanish Sahara,” the burn turns into a full-fledged fire. And fire is an apt metaphor, perhaps, because the title of the Brits’ latest release — Holy Fire — references a sort of cathartic purity.
They’re one of those bands for which festivals are made: they write quality songs that have achieved enough buzz to draw a crowd, songs meant to be performed live, songs that knock the socks off attendees once they’ve make the decision to stumble over to catch Foals’ performance. To wit, a couple of years ago they rocked a mid-afternoon slot at Coachella, becoming one of the most buzzed bands at that year’s festival and earning a legion of passionate fans in one afternoon. The five-piece from Brighton, England returns there this year, with a tour taking them across the States after they first play across Europe and in South America. And, if modified concert videos are too tame for your taste, well, just wait for their NSFW next video.
