Pop Break Live: Foals, ‘Life is Yours’ Tour with Gustaf and Inner Wave at The Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, CA on Wednesday November 16, 2022
Playing in Los Angeles for the first time since before the pandemic, British rock band Foals made their triumphant return to the City of Angels just in the nick of time before the year’s close. A band known for their live shows – having won the award for Best Live Act from Q in 2013 and from NME in 2020, among many other nominations – Foals all but confirmed that several tour cancellations and taking a few years off because of Covid didn’t affect their live show in the slightest.
Before Foals took the stage at the iconic Hollywood Palladium, two opening acts — the DIY-inspired, Brooklyn-based band Gustaf and LA-based indie darlings Inner Wave — warmed up the crowd that kept growing larger and larger over the evening. Gustaf, a rowdy five-piece, quickly livened up the room on the crowded stage with sparkly jumpsuits, tin cans, and even a flute in addition to the typical guitar, bass, and drums get-up. Their debut record Audio Drag For Ego Slobs, which was released at the end of last year and made up most of their set, echoes the early NYC punkiness of Yeah Yeah Yeahs and overseas artsy-ness of Art Brut. Much like Foals, Gustaf is known for their live shows, and their performance at the Hollywood Palladium only reaffirmed that.
Local act Inner Wave took a different approach to their set with a more understated yet cinematic performance. Singer Pablo Sotelo has the voice and vibe of Julian Casablancas, but the band approached their sound with a relaxed, synthwave tone. A small but mighty group in the audience was singing along forcefully with every word and hollered with joy between every song. They’re a cool Latine band with many years ahead of them, and a unique pairing for Foals’ live shows.
After the impressive openers, Foals took the stage and opened their set with the springy single “Wake Me Up” from their 2022 record Life Is Yours. Due to Covid and having to reschedule several tours, Foals were meant to be touring and promoting their 2019 records Everything Saved Will Not Be Lost Part 1 and Part 2 this year, but fans were given an extra treat when Life Is Yours offered up nearly a dozen new songs in rotation. Luckily, all three records were given love in the set, as well as early much-loved tracks. One of the best tracks from Life called 2am was an early standout in the night, and fit perfectly between the addictive classic “My Number” and the synth-y singalong “In Degrees.”
Foals fans who love the slow burns as much as the upbeat dance tracks were able to get their fill as well. The band debuted “Neptune,” a 10-minute sprawling track from their 2019 album that got lost in the Covid rescheduling but made an unforgettable impression live. Early fan favorite “Spanish Sahara” certainly transformed the crowd as it slowly built up to its tremendous crescendo and the Hollywood Palladium disco ball dropped from the ceiling with perfect timing.
Despite many standout tracks, the final three songs of the night were undeniably the most rowdy and exciting parts of the show. Upon starting “Mountain At My Gates,” the crowd roared and frontman Yannis Philippakis jumped and leapt across the stage with meaningful plucks of his guitar. By “Inhaler,” he had fully immersed himself into the crowd that practically swallowed him whole. Arms, legs, faces, and a single guitar blurred together as everyone jumped in unison with Philippakis and the anthemic chorus. Classic Foals set closer “Two Steps, Twice” sounded better than ever and was truly the perfect microcosm of a performance for the band; if no one had ever heard Foals or seen them live, all they’d need to witness is one performance of “Two Steps, Twice” to understand what makes this band so special and incredible live.
With the show finished and the crowd sweating in their elation, drummer Jack Bevan still found time to toss several drumsticks into the crowd and Philippakis even signed a couple of vinyl for fans in the front row. After announcing his gratitude for being able to perform for the LA audience, Philippakis added, “Fuck COVID!” For a band as big as Foals – who have consistently released outstanding records for more than a decade – it was wonderful to see how close they still feel to their fans, and how revitalizing their live show can still be.
