Friendly Fires show ready for the road

Jan 28 2009 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

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EVERYONE loves Friendly Fires, from trendy radio stations to the South Bank Show, which recently nominated the dance-rock band for its breakthrough arts award.

Their self-titled debut album was one of the critical hits of 2008 – and the band can’t wait to get more music out there.

Ahead of their latest tour, starting in Liverpool tomorrow – the Shockwaves NME Awards tour on which they share a bill with Glasvegas, White Lies and Florence and the Machine – the St Albans trio have holed themselves up in an impromptu garage studio in Devon.

“We’ve been touring quite a lot so we’ve been desperate to get back into the studio,” frontman Ed McFarlane said.

“Ideally, we’d like to release a little EP between our next album and have it ready for summer.”

Friendly Fires signed up for the NME tour – that has previously sealed the UK reputations of acts including Coldplay and the Killers – because of their ambition to take things to the “next level”.

As for the company (disappointingly, the bands are likely to meet at venues separately rather than travel in a debauched, rock ’n’ roll convoy), Friendly Fires have crossed paths with the other acts on the bill and are interested to see what the mix-up will bring.

“ I’m looking forward to seeing their live shows and what they’ve got up their sleeves,” Ed says.

“I’m intrigued to hear what they have to offer.”

Friendly Fires have been a favourite for their Liverpool club dates in the past and the band say they’re keen to come back.

“We’ve always had a great response in Liverpool,” Ed adds.