Fcukers live review: a band you can’t forget
“I can’t see your name on the list” are words that no journalist wants to hear as they’re standing at the box office with just a few minutes until the band they’re meant to be reviewing takes to the stage. A strong wave of panic flooded my body as my hopes of seeing Fcukers again – New York’s most exciting new electronic band – started to dwindle away.
Taunted by the fact I could see inside the main gig space through the locked double doors that led from the box office, all I could do was wait while the woman behind the glass contacted various members of staff. Finally, with one minute to spare, I was given my tickets. As I impatiently waited in the queue to be scanned and searched, the opening thumps of ‘Devil’s Cut’, the band’s synth-infused cover of Beck’s ‘90s hit ‘Devil’s Haircut’, emanated from inside the venue. So close yet so far away.
In those moments of anxiety, it feels as though time falls apart. Five minutes turns into an hour, and as I heard the vibrations of a song I’ve had on repeat all year, I mentally surrendered to the fact I was going to miss half the set. I’ve been ridiculously obsessed with Fcukers ever since I caught them playing a free gig at Headrow House to a sparse crowd earlier this year. Even though there were no more than 30 people in the room, the band played with the amount of power you’d expect from a gig in a packed out sweaty room, and they instantly won me over.
Fcukers have the kind of energy – made better by the fact that they always use live drums and bass alongside their synthetic sounds – that could easily light up both an underground club and an academy-sized venue. With their all-encompassing sonic experiments, no matter where you catch Fcukers, you’re in for a good time. Thus, there was a good reason for the anxiety I was feeling – how could you not want to be in there, dancing along to tracks like ‘Homie Don’t Shake’ and ‘Bon Bon’?
Once I was finally inside, my anxiety dissipated and I was hit with a wave of euphoria. I’d only missed half of ‘Devil’s Cut’, and I danced out any lingering traces of tension as lead vocalist Shannon Wise repeated the words “There’s a devil’s haircuts in my mind…”
Alongside their Beck cover, they cycled through several tracks from their debut EP, Baggy$$, their first single, ‘Mothers’, and a few new cuts. While Fcukers are easily my favourite new act on the scene, judging by the reaction from the crowd, it seems that I’m not alone in my obsession. It’s rare for a support act to make a room so energetic – especially before 8:30 pm – but everyone was dancing and revelling in the playful atmosphere that the band honed so effortlessly.
Half an hour later, headliners Confidence Man delivered a flawless set full of choreographed routines, costume changes, and singalongs. Yet, thanks to Fcukers, the crowd were more than ready to go before the Australian band had even stepped on stage.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out New Music Newsletter
All the latest New Music from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.