Friendly Fires have been making music since they were teenagers. Ed, Edd and Eddy–just kidding, the third member’s name is Jack–met in high school and formed a post-hardcore band, First Day Back. However, they evolved into a pop band shortly after leaving university and began to take inspiration in their music from Kompakt, Carl Craig and Prince, leaving their hard-rock beginnings behind. Always having been listeners of many genres, the Fires understand and appreciate music to the fullest, so it was only natural for a conversation to go on a tangent about pop music before they were swiftly scooped up by their publicist for another interview.
URB: Have you guys been here in Chicago before?
FF: We have been to Chicago. We played at the Double Door-Well done Double Door, and especially well-done Earwax Café.
URB: Lollapalooza is a completely different environment than a small club like Double Door, how does performance and mentality change?
FF: The weirdest thing for me is if you remotely go near a crowd at a festival, they all go AHH!! AHHH!!! If you did that in a regular show, they’d be like Get away from me! Ugh!
FF: I was pretty apprehensive before we went on because it’s so hot, just setting up our gear, I was sweating all over the pedals, and I couldn’t see anything that was going on in front of my eyes. I was worried this would be one of those shows I’ve had many times before where it all crumbles before my very eyes–everything disintegrates.
FF: We had to tear up the Lollapalooza booklet and gaffer tape it to our pedals just to make sure we were in tune because the sun was just blaring down.
FF: I was pretty apprehensive before we went on because it’s so hot, just setting up our gear, I was sweating all over the pedals, and I couldn’t see anything that was going on in front of my eyes. I was worried this would be one of those shows I’ve had many times before where it all crumbles before my very eyes–everything disintegrates.
FF: We had to tear up the Lollapalooza booklet and gaffer tape it to our pedals just to make sure we were in tune because the sun was just blaring down.
URB: The worst is when the sweat gets all in your eyes and your eyes burn.
FF: I’m used to that. If you put Vaseline on your brow–that’s what all the goalkeepers do–apparently, that’s a good way of repelling the water.
FF: It’s especially bad if the sweat mixes with sun block and it goes into your eyes. FF: I do think we had to take a little bit more time in between songs just to gather our physical resources and stuff. Especially because here you aren’t playing to our own crowd, if you do a show at the Double Door, let’s say, people are buying tickets because they want to see you.
FF: Actually, the last time we played the Double Door we were probably playing to people who wanted to see what White Lies were all about and not wanting to see what we’re about.
FF: It was at least 50/50.
FF: Really? FF: Let’s not get mathematic here.
FF: I’d say it was at least 70/30 [laughs].
FF: I’m used to that. If you put Vaseline on your brow–that’s what all the goalkeepers do–apparently, that’s a good way of repelling the water.
FF: It’s especially bad if the sweat mixes with sun block and it goes into your eyes. FF: I do think we had to take a little bit more time in between songs just to gather our physical resources and stuff. Especially because here you aren’t playing to our own crowd, if you do a show at the Double Door, let’s say, people are buying tickets because they want to see you.
FF: Actually, the last time we played the Double Door we were probably playing to people who wanted to see what White Lies were all about and not wanting to see what we’re about.
FF: It was at least 50/50.
FF: Really? FF: Let’s not get mathematic here.
FF: I’d say it was at least 70/30 [laughs].
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