fiN – ‘Life is Wasted on the Living’ album launch, 04/04/13. The Monarch, Camden.
Much to my shame, I have only recently heard of indie-rockers fiN, but since following them on twitter have been impressed to discover the rapidly growing success that seems to have followed in the aftermath of the band supporting Muse on tour last year. After investing in their debut album ‘Life is Wasted on The Living’, and enjoying singing along to the catchy melodies, I was therefore excited about attending the ‘album launch’ of this up and coming band.
Before the headlining act graced the stage, however, there was to be support from ‘The Wholls’. With a Richard Ashcroft lookalike for a singer, this fresh-faced band came across as a somewhat confusing amalgamation of The Arctic Monkeys meets Dizzee Rascal. Nevertheless, whatever it was they were aspiring to be seemed to go down well with the crowd, who were enthusiastically bopping up and down to the rapping vocals and pounding bass lines.
Just as I was starting to wonder whether perhaps I was a bit too old to be in amongst all these overly energetic youths (and had begun to drift in and out of duvet-filled fantasies), upon hearing an enthused ‘Let’s get this party started!’, I clearly had no choice but to leap out of my seat to join the fiN fans in welcoming them to the stage. Luke Joyce had thus ensured his band a grand entrance, as they promptly burst into song with vigour and emotion.
What immediately struck me as fiN began their set was the confidence and self–assured charisma of the lead singer, Luke Joyce. Whilst being so well groomed that he could possibly feature in an advert for Topman, Joyce lacks the cockiness that could easily accompany this, and instead was brimming full of an endearing enthusiastic charm that clearly inspires his young fans. In fact, I found the gusto and passion with which he seemed to attack every song pretty heart-warming, and strongly believe that he possesses genuine star material and could even be described as a perfect front man.
The band as a whole seems to gel brilliantly. Complementing the perfect front man, Kerry Lambert is intensely energetic as he bounces along with his bass, in contrast to an incredibly laid back Simon Harding on drums and equally cool, floppy-haired, Jonny Garner on lead guitar. The way in which each member of the band already seems to have formed a specific identity for themselves really adds to their stage presence and the aura of excitement that surrounds fiN.
Musically, fiN are clearly very talented, and seem to draw on an eclectic range of influences. Though, predominantly, they seem reminiscent of a variety of early noughties indie-rock bands and, throughout the set, I often found myself comparing Joyce’s vocals to those of Feeder’s Grant Nicholas - nasal and smooth, with an appealing huskiness (in fact, the song 5am,despite its specific references to Cobain and Frank Black, really reminds me of High – a Feeder favourite). Each fiN song, however, seems to reflect a different inspiration, and it’s refreshing how the band seem to experiment with different sounds and influences, ranging from the heartfelt Radiohead-esque Lucky you, to the more bouncy Foals-like guitar riffs of The Truth lies in Honesty. Pre-empted by an encouraging ‘who feels like dancing?!’ from Joyce, this song was a particular crowd-pleaser, as the majority of the mosh pit inhabitants did indeed seem to feel like dancing, and everyone was soon bopping up and down.
The album’s title track Life is Wasted on The Living was offered to us with persistent energy and vigour, as Joyce unreservedly made his way into the crowd, and even up into the eaves of the building. At this point, my worries of being too old set in again, and the teacher in me became increasingly aware of health and safety (I doubt a risk assessment had even been carried out…), but I soon became distracted by the wonderfully enthusiastic rendition of the album’s namesake, and the throng of awe-filled teens I was surrounded by.
More atmospheric numbers included my personal favourite, Everybody Dies Alone, which- if we had been at a festival - would have definitely been the cue to get your lighters out and sway from side to side. However, the restrictions of the indoor venue did not prevent everyone from singing along and becoming spellbound by the song’s dramatically elevated vocals and pounding electric guitar riffs, reminiscent of the band’s old tour-buddies, Muse.
All in all, there is no doubt that fiN put on a great show. With their catchy, celebratory songs and charming personalities, I can really envisage them selling out arenas, and good luck to them. Not only are they great on stage, but I also admire them for the ever increasing success of their debut album, without having the aid of a record label or any radio play. The band are thus clearly wholly dedicated and determined, and their infallible enthusiasm and energy for what they do is really very endearing. The future definitely looks bright for fiN and I’m looking forward to being able to boast to the masses, upon hearing their songs played across the airwaves in the future: ‘Yes, I was at their album launch party… That pretty guy with the perfect hair, he sang that song whilst dangling from the eaves right above me.’