Fleet Foxes thrill Wolverhampton Civic Hall

Fleet Foxes

Wolverhampton Civic Hall

review by Paul Mannion

Atmospheric folk stars the Fleet Foxes brought their sell out show to the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

The storytelling Seattle six-piece played their unique blend of folk and country music to a packed out venue.

Opening with an instrumental song, the band warmed both themselves and their hundreds of fans up for their almost two hour performance.

Fleet Foxes have enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame, with their acclaimed self-titled debut album from way back in 2008 their only other release prior to 2011's Helplessness Blues.

The talented band stuck to their winning formula at the Civic Hall, using their trademark harmonies to full effect throughout and switching instruments from guitars, to mandolins, to maracas and even a trumpet.

A subdued Wolverhampton crowd listened attentively throughout the performance but it was the band's most accessible songs that brought the loudest cheers and sporadic singing along.

Half an hour into the gig the band changed tact and played what the audience came for, first single White Winter Hymnal, followed up with Mykonos.

Both received rapturous applause.

Despite their calming stage presence and soothing tones, performing live the band belay their passive exteriors by playing furiously throughout.

A highlight from the set was He Doesn't Know Why, which was played with a raw passion that silenced the town centre venue.

Fleet Foxes are a fantastic live band, but they lack the strength in depth throughout their catalogue of songs to keep an audience as large as the Civic Hall interested and the less intimate environment did not suit their style