Chordblossom
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Features
    • Articles
    • Festivals
    • Fresh NI Music
    • Interviews
    • Introducing
    • Win
  • Media
    • Playlists
    • Photosets
    • Podcast
    • Sessions
    • Transmission
    • TV
  • Kickstart
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Mailing List
    • Vacancies
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Features
    • Articles
    • Festivals
    • Fresh NI Music
    • Interviews
    • Introducing
    • Win
  • Media
    • Playlists
    • Photosets
    • Podcast
    • Sessions
    • Transmission
    • TV
  • Kickstart
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Mailing List
    • Vacancies
No Result
View All Result
Chordblossom
No Result
View All Result

The Fugues – 11th October 2018

Ben Magee by Ben Magee
October 14, 2018
in Live Reviews
The Fugues – 11th October 2018

The Fugues
Thursday 11th October 2018 – Voodoo, Belfast

I’d just reached the halfway mark through Fountain Street when I began to hear them. Faint reverberations coming from an upstairs window, distant echoes of what can only be a soundcheck. I make my way upstairs to observe and pass through the open doors to Voodoo’s performance space without hassle. From my seat at the back of the room, I see The Fugues begin their next song. They sound tight. They look good. Its hard to believe they have been absent for so long.

And then the song stops. To my ears, it does not sound like they’ve missed a beat, but the sound engineer disagrees. There is much back and forth, as instructions are barked while the band quickly make their adjustments. It is in-between numbers that a visible nervousness creeps in. I back out the door as the opening chords of the next tune begin, wondering exactly what the show will be like. The Fugues are the only band playing tonight, a symbolic statement for a comeback gig. One can only imagine what’s going through their heads.

Chordblossom Presents: Gifted - David C Clements | Our Krypton Son | Aine Gordon - Live at the Belfast Empire - 11 September 2025 Chordblossom Presents: Gifted - David C Clements | Our Krypton Son | Aine Gordon - Live at the Belfast Empire - 11 September 2025 Chordblossom Presents: Gifted - David C Clements | Our Krypton Son | Aine Gordon - Live at the Belfast Empire - 11 September 2025
ADVERTISEMENT

After a quick stop off in the hostelry below, I make my way back upstairs to see a crowd has emerged in my absence. The band are already on stage after a quick change (apparently it was shit shirt day? I seemed to have missed the memo) and I struggle to approach the stage. Fans are packed like sardines in anticipation for the performance. An imposing (tall. like abnormally tall.) band, they cut quite a figure stood atop the stage. Their presence is announced to the crowd with a roar and a power chord that quickly bleeds into opener ‘Long Time Waiting’. The group is without a lick of their earlier nerves, sounding better than they had before. The same biting indie viciousness with poppy undertones that won the heart of the local scene is still there, while the tinny lead guitar and uptempo groove bring Twin Atlantic comparisons to mind.

An audible cheer goes up at the announcement of their next song, the first one they ever recorded. More rocky than the set so far, I am struck by the variety in the set list, which has a little bit of everything. Riffs and licks for the rockers, hooks for the dances and harmonies for everyone else. The Fugues sound tight, professional even, which is satisfying to watch in of itself. As the set progresses the vocals and lead guitar gravitate towards punkiness, giving that extra edge that only incises the crowd. At one point, frontman Kaelan Powers steps back from the mic to laugh and the band join in, clearly in love with the energy. The Fugues returned from their absence unabashed and grateful. This translated into an appealing, accessible set filled with noise and dancing. There’s not much more you can really ask for.

Leave a Comment ⁞

Tags: The FuguesVoodoo
ShareTweetShareShareSendSend
Previous Post

Watch: Gnarkats – War Cry

Next Post

Marc O’Reilly – 12th October 2018

Related Posts

Gig Guide
Features

Gig Guide: January 2025

January 8, 2025
Crypt of the Riff Festival X
Interviews

Interview: Delving into the Crypt

October 8, 2024

Recent Posts

PANIC OVER - Photography by Emily Black

Tour Diary: Panic Over – Japanic Over

June 17, 2025
Junk Drawer - Days of Heaven

Junk Drawer – Days of Heaven

June 16, 2025
Gifted David C Clements Our Krypton Son Aine Gordon Header Image

Chordblossom Presents: GIFTED with David C Clements, Our Krypton Son & Áine Gordon

June 9, 2025

Twitter

Instagram

Follow

    The Instagram Access Token is expired, Go to the Customizer > JNews : Social, Like & View > Instagram Feed Setting, to to refresh it.

Spotify Playlist

Fresh Music From Northern Ireland

Mailing List

  • About Chordblossom
  • Kickstart
  • Music Reviews
  • Live Reviews
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Photos
  • Fresh Music From Northern Ireland Playlist
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • Mailing List

© 2020 Chordblossom

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Features
    • Articles
    • Festivals
    • Fresh NI Music
    • Interviews
    • Introducing
    • Win
  • Media
    • Playlists
    • Photosets
    • Podcast
    • Sessions
    • Transmission
    • TV
  • Kickstart
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Mailing List
    • Vacancies

© 2020 Chordblossom

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT