Funeral For A Friend Band • Page 10

Wait, googling his name made this podcast from this year pop up. Should be an interesting listen.

 

Somehow only found these guys earlier this year. I'm equal parts floored by Casually Dressed and dumbfounded by how quickly things seemed to go sideways from there. The irony is that I discovered them as a rec for Saosin fans, a band that had a very similar dropoff from an incredible debut.

So to this point, besides CD&DIC, I've only really checked out Hours (amazing high points, but too many low points) and Armageddon (awesome, almost a full comeback to the debut) in depth. Everything else I was quickly put off just skimming. Are there at least some specific tracks throughout the rest of their discog for someone like me?

 

Into Oblivion from Tales Don’t Tell Themselves is always a good listen to me.

 

I never explored FFAF too deeply but WHA is one of my favorite records of that decade.

 

I personally think Conduit and Chapter and Verse are both phenomenal. admittedly they almost sound like a different band (hardcore punk mixed with a bit of their post-hardcore sound), but if you like "Man Alive" from WHA, you will probably find something to like in them

for tracks recs try "Best Friends and Hospital Beds", "Donny" and "The Distance"

 

I think their last great album was WHA. It managed to recapture that early sound of theirs well. Post hardcore was having a thing in the UK when it came out as well so it worked in their favour to do the ‘return to our roots’ album. After Darran and Ryan left I felt it massively hindered their sound and progression. Personally I think they should have took some time off then as it was never the same without them and you could tell they were just getting more and more tired. Looks like the time off has done them well and of course it’s awesome to see Darran and Ryan back because of it.

 

Remembering these guys from the Burnout 3 soundtrack back in the day…

 

Conduit isn't that much of a departure from Welcome Home Armageddon, but does veer into metalcore-ish territory for them. It's a pretty short listen so I recommend giving it a chance. I'm not much of a fan of Chapter And Verse but it does contain a few highlights such as After All These Years and Pencil Pusher.

Also quoting myself because I listened to the podcast yesterday and, similarly to how quickly they fell off popularity wise, it was wild to hear Gareth recall how fast everything went for them in the beginning. He recalled being shocked over the band having only written four songs when he joined them, from releasing them right ahead to being courted by major labels, having the opportunity to tour with Iron Maiden among other big acts, signing with their then label on the promise of having an album worth of material ready (which wasn't the case at all), writing and releasing Casually on the go etc., all in less than two years following their inception.

It was amusing hearing him joke about being the person to blame for the band going softer, as he was branding himself as the "indie guy" in the band. He was very humble and appreciative about his time in the band. It was heartwarming to hear him explain how leaving the band also led him to have a newfound appreciation of their music, as a fan this time. He was showing nothing but praise for Conduit in particular. At some point, he also compared the recording process between Casually and Hours, and how he preferred some demos from the latter to the final versions.

Some stories he shared over the typical band/touring life were wild as well. One "holy shit" moment was about him being so indebted when the band was just starting to blow up that he brought up a magazine with his face and the band on the cover to a bank in hopes they would give him a loan.

I was a bit bummed to not hear much chatter over Tales Don't Tell Themselves and Memory & Humanity otherwise, but Gareth did say at the end he would be up for a second podcast with the host, at least to detail what led to his departure. It looks like no episode has been uploaded in a quite a while though, so I'm not sure the podcast is still ongoing.

 

OK, based on responses I revisited some of the catalog outside my two mainstays (Casually Dressed and WHA).

Hours is more consistent than I gave it credit for on first listen. I'm still always gonna skip stuff like "Drive" and "History," but the majority of tracks have some interesting musical ideas and guitar work, even if it's packaged with more of a mainstream sheen than Casually Dressed.

Conduit also has some bangers, and Crisp was right about it staying more in tune with WHA than I thought. I feel like there's a rapid decline in the vocals from WHA onward, though... and by Chapter and Verse I can't tolerate it, regardless of the instrumentals. I get that they were going for a raw sound, but... my god.

 

Seeing these tonight. They were excellent at Slam Dunk both times and the setlist looks very good.

 

Anyone know if they plan on making new music? Or is it just live shows atm?

 

So the show was brilliant as always. If they took out Great Wide Open, it would be a pretty perfect setlist.

It’s specifically a set of just the first three albums, and the material from Hours in particular is always a highlight of the set.

As for new music, they haven’t mentioned anything, but if his vocals are up to it, they would be mad not to capitalise on the buzz over here.

 

Leave OUT Great Wide Open? Song is great! Maybe it doesn't translate live as well?

 

Last time I saw them live was in 2015 and I really don't think I appreciated at the time that half of those songs they would never play live again eeek

Funeral for a Friend Concert Setlist at The Westcoast Bar, Margate on July 24, 2015 | setlist.fm

 

In recent interviews and podcasts, I've seen various answers from each member that range from "we've said all we had to say as a band" to "never say never" and "if it happens, it happens".

I would definitely love to hear what they're able to cook up as a 6 piece, but I figure the logistics of them being an active band again are already difficult enough considering Matthew now lives in Germany. Or perhaps they'll pull an Alexisonfire by continuing to tour then eventually releasing new music much further down the road.

I really would like to see them live though. I was supposed to see them with The Blackout in 2011 but the concert was cancelled at the last minute. Welcome Home Armaggedon ended up becoming my favorite release, so it still pains me that I wasn't able to catch any of these songs live.

 

Great Wide Open is a goddamn tune

 

Good song, but live it just doesn’t have the dynamics or oomph, and it stuck out in the set. I’d rather have This Years Most Open Heartbreak or something from WHA tbh.

The All Hands On Deck pts 1 & 2 from that album were great live though.

Funeral for a Friend Setlist at O2 Academy, Birmingham

 

They are main support for one of the my chemical romance dates in may

 

Been on a kick of these guys lately. They really are special.

 

I'm sure I've said this a few times on this thread, but how on earth does Memory & Humanity not get more love? I remember at the time it was their 'return' to the heavier sound after Tales and songs like Rules & Games, Constant Illuminations and Charlie Don't Surf absolutely blew me away. It's the main album I go back to after all these years

 

I still find it and WHA super inconsistent and hit or miss personally. that being said the highs are insanely high and I can for sure understand why WHA in particular gets love

that being said, the four new songs on the greatest hits comp >>>>>>

 

heh, I've said it before but after years of lurking I joined ap.net when M&H was announced and my username was Someday The Fire. Ended up really disliking that song when M&H actually came out.

 

I remember being really turned off with the direction of Tales and not giving it a chance (really love it now) and probably didn't give Memory and Humanity a fair shake. Been listening to both lately and they really are great listens though I think still on the weaker end of their discography.

I really got into Conduit when it launched and listened to that like crazy.

 

When they played songs from Tales live recently, it was VERY hit and miss. Oblivion is possibly their best singalong song, and the All Hands on Deck duo are terrific too, but songs like The Great Wide Open are so dull live.

 

I only really like All Hands on Deck and Out of Reach from that album.