News
Sheffield all dayer announces first 40 artists for May event
Jan 25, 2023
By Dom Gourlay
Sheffield all dayer announces its first forty acts for 2023 event. More
Issue 66 Features Musicians and Actors on Their All-Time Favorite Albums, including Tegan and Sara, Wilco, Weyes Blood, Sigur Rós, Fred Armisen, Topher Grace, Jay Baruchel, Low, and more
Sep 27, 2019
By Mark Redfern
Under the Radar is excited to announce the My Favorite Album Issue, our new print issue in which we speak to musicians and actors about their all-time favorite album. The issue features Angel Olsen and Sleater-Kinney on the two covers and is available to buy directly from us here, as well as being distributed in stores nationwide (on newsstands, in such stores as Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, and elsewhere). More
Plus Stream New Albums from Ride, Friendly Fires, Shura, Amason, Blanck Mass, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, and More
Aug 16, 2019
By Christopher Roberts
Sleater-Kinney have released a new album, The Center Won’t Hold, today via Mom + Pop and it’s our Album of the Week. Find more info on the album below. Below that are streams of other notable albums released today: Amason, Blanck Mass, Friendly Fires, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, The Hold Steady, Oso Oso, Ride, and Shura. More
Inflorescent Out Now via Casablanca/Polydor
Aug 16, 2019
By Christopher Roberts
British dance-rock trio Friendly Fires have released a new album, Inflorescent, today via Casablanca/Polydor. Now that the album is out, you can stream the whole thing here. More
Plus Metronomy, DIIV, Chance The Rapper + Ben Gibbard, Tegan and Sara, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks
Jul 26, 2019
By Christopher Roberts
Welcome to another Songs of the Week. It was another strong week for new tracks. There are some repeat offenders (artists who have had previous Songs of the Week in recent months), some newbies, and a surprising collaboration. More
Inflorescent Due Out August 16 via Casablanca/Polydor
Jul 25, 2019
By Christopher Roberts
Friendly Fires are releasing a new album, Inflorescent, on August 16 via Casablanca/Polydor. Now they have shared another song from it, “Run the Wild Flowers.” More
Plus serpentwithfeet, Friendly Fires, Lucy Dacus, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks
Jun 28, 2019
By Christopher Roberts
Welcome to another Songs of the Week. The Top 2 are by the same artist, which rarely happens, if ever. This week was a challenge, as there were less immediately obvious tracks to make the Top 10, but then we dug deep and ended up with too many tracks (there are an additional 10 honorable mentions). So there are lots and lots of songs to listen to below. More
Inflorescent Due Out August 16 via Casablanca/Polydor
Jun 24, 2019
By Christopher Roberts
Friendly Fires have announced a new album, Inflorescent, and shared a new song from it, “Silhouettes.” More
New Single (Co-Produced by Disclosure) Out Now via Polydor
Nov 21, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
Friendly Fires have shared a video for “Heaven Let Me In,” a single they released last month that was one of our Songs of the Week. BISON directed the video, which stars British actor Jeremy Irvine, who made his movie-acting debut starring in Steven Spielberg’s War Horse and has since appeared in The Railway Man, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, and others. More
Plus Jamila Woods, Neneh Cherry, Thom Yorke, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks
Oct 19, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
An artist whose last song also made it to #1 on that week’s list and an anti-Donald Trump protest song scheduled to be covered by many more artists head this week’s Songs of the Week list. Plus Thom Yorkemakes the list yet again. More
Plus Daniel Rossen, Eleanor Friedberger, Ryley Walker, Jess Williamson, Melody's Echo Chamber, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks
Apr 06, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
Songs of the Week is fairly easy to put together, there are obviously standout tracks and it’s just a case of working out the order. Other weeks there are few great tracks and it’s a real struggle. This week there was an obvious #1 in Beach House and then there were so, so many other tracks to decide between to come up with a Top 10. More
It's Been Seven Years Since Their Last Album
Apr 06, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
It’s been seven long years since Pala, the sophomore album by London dance-rock trio Friendly Fires, but now they have returned with a brand new single, “Love Like Waves,” and it’s a whole lot of danceable fun. More
Nov 10, 2011
By Laura Studarus
Check out the video for “Hurting” a cut from Friendly Fires’ sophomore album Pala. More
Pala Track Gets a Facelift
Nov 05, 2011
By Laura Studarus
Take a listen to the Tiga Remix of Friendly Fires’ track, “Blue Cassette” (from this year’s album Pala). The track debuted tonight on Annie Mac’s BBC Radio 1 show and we have the stream. More
Dance Rock Kings Go Smooth
Sep 15, 2011
By Laura Studarus
Today, Friendly Fires’ “Hurting” (from this year’s Pala) got the remix treatment. We have the new track. More
Richard Turner Dies at 27
Aug 19, 2011
By Laura Studarus
Sad news today from Friendly Fires’ camp. The band’s trumpet player Richard Turner—who had been performing with the band live for three years, died suddenly at the age of 27. More
Issue Also Features Stephen Malkmus vs. Gus Van Sant, M83, The Horrors, Washed Out, Bon Iver vs. Fugazi, WU LYF, Dum Dum Girls, and much more
Jul 28, 2011
By Mark Redfern and Laura Studarus
Under the Radar’s Summer 2011 Issue has just hit stands. It features St. Vincent on the cover and includes articles on M83, Bon Iver vs. Fugazi, The Horrors, Washed Out, Stephen Malkmus vs. Gus Van Sant, WU LYF, Dum Dum Girls, Friendly Fires, Memory Tapes, John Maus, Niki & The Dove, Purity Ring, Youth Lagoon, and many others; as well as over 115 reviews. The digital version of the magazine also includes 50 extra pages of bonus content, including articles on My Morning Jacket, The Rapture, Eleanor Friedberger, Handsome Furs, Moonface, Stephin Merritt, Laurel Halo, and more. More
Performers Also Include Cut Copy, Beach House, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Friendly Fires, Empire of the Sun, Battles, and others
Jul 26, 2011
By Margot Cooper Gruen
Today, Treasure Island Music Festival announced their 2011 lineup. More
British Dance Band Makes Light on the Annoyances of Flying
Jun 16, 2011
By Margot Cooper Gruen
Dance band Friendly Fires have released a video for their second single from their sophomore album Pala, “Hawaiian Air.” The band is aboard a flight to Hawaii and deal with the nuisances of flying. More
Jun 16, 2011
By Margot Cooper Gruen
On Friday, June 10, 2011, Friendly Fires performed at The Music Box at Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood, CA. More
Album Stream Available Next Week
May 06, 2011
By Laura Studarus
Friendly Fires want to give you your summer jam. The UK dance rock trio is giving away Pala single “Blue Cassette” via The Hype Machine. More
Band Plays New Single “Live Those Days Tonight”
Mar 24, 2011
By Laura Studarus
Friendly Fires hit the stage at Late Night With Jimmy Fallon last night to premiere new single “Live Those Days Tonight,” a track from forthcoming album Pala (out May 24). We have the video. More
Mar 22, 2011
By Mike Hilleary
London trio Friendly Fires have announced the upcoming release of Pala, the follow-up to their successful self-titled album, for May 24. More
Additional U.S. Tour Dates
Mar 07, 2011
By Laura Studarus
Dance rock aficionados Friendly Fires are heading to the U.S. In addition to a tour and several gigs at SXSW, the band will be curating a showcase. We have the details. More
New Album, Pala, Due this Spring
Jan 18, 2011
By Mark Redfern
British electro-rock trio Friendly Fires (or “dance punk” as Wikipedia describes them) have announced a full U.S. tour to go down in May and June. They will also be playing previously announced dates in NYC and LA in February and will be hitting SXSW in March. Based on previous shows, expect plenty of dance moves from frontman Ed Macfarlane and lots of cowbell. More
New York and Los Angeles Are You Ready to Rock?
Dec 08, 2010
By Laura Studarus
British dance-rockers Friendly Fires are heading back to the U.S. after a 14-month touring break. We have the info. More
British Rapper Beats out Bat For Lashes, Florence and the Machine, The Horrors, Friendly Fires, The Invisible
Sep 08, 2009
By Mark Redfern
Speech Debelle has won this year’s Mercury Prize, it was just announced at a ceremony in London. The British rapper was something of a surprise winner and beat out the likes of The Horrors, Friendly Fires, Bat For Lashes, The Invisible, Florence and the Machine, Kasabian, Glasvegas, and others. Debelle took the stage and immediately gave a shout out to one of her fellow nominees. “Big up The Invisible,” she said. Debelle had told BBC 6 Music radio earlier in the evenining that The Invisible were her favorite other nominee. Ironically, despite her name, Speech Debelle gave a short speech. She thanked her label, producers, and family (“my gran’s over there”).The winner is awarded 20,000 pounds and Debelle also said, “Thank-you to whoever’s name is on the check.” More
Aug 25, 2009
By Wendy Lynch Redfern
Friendly Fires played a sold-out show at The El Rey in Los Angeles, CA Monday night. We sent a photographer Wendy Lynch Redfern down to capture the action. Check out the full gallery of photos from The El Rey show here. More
The Invisible, Glasvegas, The Horrors, Kasabian, and others also honored
Jul 21, 2009
By Mark Redfern
Every year since 1992 The Mercury Prize has been awarded to the best album recorded by an artist from either the United Kingdom or Ireland. Last year Elbow won it. This morning 2009’s nominees were announced. They include Bat For Lashes, Florence and the Machine, Friendly Fires, The Invisible, Glasvegas, The Horrors, Kasabian, and others. More
Other highlights include Friendly Fires and Throbbing Gristle
Apr 23, 2009
By Mark Redfern
On day three of Coachella My Bloody Valentine threatened to burst a thousand eardrums. As we entered the festival site around 12:30 PM they were handing out complimentary earplugs in anticipation for the aural attack. Other highlights included a blood-splattered Fucked Up, an energetic Friendly Fires, and the incredibly strange Throbbing Gristle. More
Under the Radar articles on Those Performing This Weekend
Apr 16, 2009
By Mark Redfern
We have posted to our website select previous Under the Radar interviews with some of the great artists playing the Coachella festival this weekend. If you’re heading out to the festival, then check out these interviews at the links below to either give you a primer on an unfamiliar artist or remind you why they are one of your favorites whose set you will definitely be catching. Even if you’re not hitting the desert festival, this is a great collection of back issue content newly posted to the site. More
Start Weeping About Set Time Clashes Now
Apr 14, 2009
By Michele Yamamoto
The set times for Coachella have finally been posted to the festival website. With a nerve-shattering 3 days to go, festival goers can finally agonize over conflicts, geography and meal times. More
Interviews
“I never have to even engage my brain when asked the question of my favorite record. It was always Loveless. It will always be Loveless.”
Aug 11, 2020
By Jack Savidge
There’s only one album that I would ever consider my favorite forsaking all others and that’s My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless. It’s a nice comfortable thing having a favorite that you love so much—like a happy marriage. More
Feb 01, 2008
By J. Pace
Friendly Fires, hailing from St. Albans, England, burst on the scene with a rousing, danceable cover of Jamie Principle’s infamous house cut “Your Love,” a far cry from their beginnings as a hardcore band. More
Reviews
Sep 26, 2019
By Blaise Radley
On their third record, Inflorescent, Friendly Fires are grasping for the last of the summer sun, staring it down with little regard for their poor eyes or their rapidly melting brain matter. More
Jun 21, 2011
By Laura Studarus
Seeing Friendly Fires live is a bit like stepping into a disco ball. Audibly at least. The sound swirls around you, tightly wound verses exploding into lush, melodic choruses. Look closely—you can see the sparkles in the air. More
May 26, 2011
By Laura Studarus
After being nominated for a Mercury Prize, why not give your fans more of what they want? At least that seems to be Friendly Fires’ theory. For their sophomore outing the band raised their glow sticks toward the heavens and continued on, crafting the same rave pop that made their self-titled debut such a buzzy pleasure. More
Aug 25, 2009
By Laura Studarus
I don’t dance. I’m an arrhythmic white girl whose main goal—at most events—is to not put an eye out with my pen or notebook. Although, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to getting my (very) awkward groove on at last night’s Friendly Fires show. For the record: no writing utensil related injuries were sustained. More
Apr 23, 2009
By Mark Redfern
On day three of Coachella My Bloody Valentine threatened to burst a thousand eardrums. As we entered the festival site around 12:30 PM they were handing out complimentary earplugs in anticipation for the aural attack. Other highlights included a blood-splattered Fucked Up, an energetic Friendly Fires, and the incredibly strange Throbbing Gristle. More
Apr 15, 2009
By Paul Bullock
Friendly Fires, of St. Albans, U.K., is still riding high on their self-titled debut. The album, released in the fall of 2008, showcases confident, kinetic songwriting that matches their growing reputation for high-octane performances. Frontman Ed Macfarlane’s winking histrionic delivery plays nearly perfectly against the tight, road-honed sounds of Jack Savidge (drums), Edd Gibson (guitar), and Rob Lee (bass) making for a kind of smart, indie-rock response to Duran Duran. More