Photo by Shawna Adams
Featuring a peeled down jam session of their greatest hits, along with an introduction of some news ones in celebration of their upcoming release, Hey Venus!, Super Furry Animals made a stop at Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg Friday night (Jan. 25). Famous for over a decade of theatrical projections, light shows, and special sound features, the Welsh psych pop outfit took things down a notch this time around, gracing the stage in scruffy garb to leave all concentration on the tunes -- they even allowed fans to choose the setlist via their website.
After several signature Beach Boys-esque pop songs and a couple new cuts (including new single "Run-Away"), the tinkering music box of "She's Got Spies" sent the audience gazing about the room with the forlorn eyes of teenagers at a high school dance. Soon singer Gruff Rhys pulled everyone from their dazes with crowd-pleasers like "Rings Around the World" and "Juxtaposed With U," as well as with a ridiculous audience participation exercise of forming mouse-like ears of wiggling fingers, which apparently "helps to improve the acoustics of the room." With all hands on heads, the room filled with a throbbing version of the band's heaviest metal song, "Receptacle for the Respectable" before a short intermission. Post-break, Rhys finally decked his signature red Mighty Morphin Power Rangers-like helmet to finish the show, while lead guitarist Huw Buford pumped fists in the air in the ultimate affirmation that the Super Furries are back and plan on staying! MARY-LOUISE PRICE / PHOTOS BY SHAWNA ADAMS
We asked: For their current tour in support of their 2007 LP, Hey Venus!, Super Furry Animals have allowed fans to choose the setlist. What songs did you or would you choose?
Name: Shil Goswami
Age: 26
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Occupation: Triangle player
"'Juxtaposed With U'."
Name: Sean Sullivan
Age: 25
Hometown: Dartmouth, MA
Occupation: Musician/designer
"'Slow Life' from 2003's Phantom Power."
Name: Pete Christofferson
Age: 26
Hometown: The Dirty
Occupation: HK
"A cover of Dr. Dre's 'The Chronic'!"
Name: Julie Warner
Age: Don't ask
Hometown: Connecticut
Occupation: Marketing
"I prefer Gruff's solo stuff, and quite frankly I'm just here to see him."
Name: Graham Parks
Age: 35
Hometown: Spokane, WA
Occupation: Painter/artist
"'The Undefeated'. I went on the website and saw I could vote, but wasn't sure if I'd get in tonight, so I didn't!"
Name: Sarah Pickles, Courtney Hechler
Age: 25/27
Hometown: Kent, UK/Ventura, CA
Occupation: Librarian/copywriter
"Ice Hockey Hair!"/"I concur."
