Foals frontman, Yannis Philippakis, debuted his solo project this year. The EP, “Lagos Paris London”, was created in collaboration with the late Tony Allen. With only five songs and clocking in at just over twenty-one minutes, it’s hard to imagine how this will lend itself to a full gig in a larger venue.
Anyone expecting Yannis & The Yaw to pad out the set with Foals material may be disappointed. The band stick to the EP tonight but the versions are extended; they become playful, vibrant renditions. It feels like watching friends jamming together; there are subtle looks and visual cues shared between the six members and it is rarely obvious where the songs are going to go next. It is fascinating to watch the interaction and see the band members sink into sound.
This loose approach never feels messy or unfocused – ‘The Yaw’ are a well-rehearsed group of incredibly talented musicians who all appear to be having a great time playing music. This short run of UK shows was due to begin the previous night in Manchester but was cancelled at the last minute due to a burst water pipe in the city centre. Yannis tells us it is “good to actually be playing a gig”. Any concern that the group may need warming up is blown away by the opening riffs of “Under the Strikes”.
There may not be any Foals songs on the setlist but the unmistakable sound of the band creeps through. Yannis has obviously perfected his skills as a guitarist as his main band have scaled the heights of arenas and festival headline slots over the years. A lot of the riffs and grooves are quite reminiscent of Foals’ 2008 debut, “Antidotes”. That more jazzy and freeform sound morphed into something more becoming of a stadium-rock band over the years and so it was wonderful to see the frontman able to explore that side of his music again.
Yannis’ instantly recognisable vocals float above the mix in “Walk Through Fire” and there’s an audible “yes” from an audience member. Foals have long outgrown Bristol’s size of venues and so it’s been almost 9 years since the band were last here. This makes the moment feel all the more special for fans of Yannis’ work.
This is not about Foals though. This is about The Yaw and Tony Allen. There’s an excellent version of the Nigerian artist’s “Afro Disco Beat”. It gradually builds to an irresistible crescendo which encourages the previously subdued crowd to start clapping along (albeit slightly offbeat). One member of the crowd does shout out “got any more Tony Allen?” which raises a bemused smile from Philippakis.
An impassioned “Clementine” concludes the main set before the band return for an epic encore of the single “Rain Can’t Reach Us” leaving the crowd hoping that this side project develops into something more.
Side projects from other 00’s indie frontmen like The Maccabees’ Orlando Weeks or Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke are playing much smaller venues than The Marble Factory. While it wasn’t a completely sold-out show, the crowd’s enthusiasm proved that Yannis & The Yaw’s appeal extends beyond his Foals legacy. This project offers a fresh, creative space for musical exploration, and the performance left fans eager for what’s to come.
video credit: The Front Row http://www.youtube.com/@knappafire
Photo Credit: unknown, contact us directly and we will add credit
