Whilst The Fashion Styling And Clear Influences Of The 60s Easybeat Sound Shine Through, This Is Not A Mere Tribute Act
On a cold and wintery night in November I headed to OSLO Bar in Hackney, London, for a night of “60s-inspired rock” from Brighton-based Fur. Upstairs at a lovely little trendy bar in northeast London, it was a pleasure to get inside the venue for some Camden lager and some warmth. Small venues in bars can often be tiny spaces with a cordoned-off area in which bands try to squeeze themselves and their gear, with poor lighting and a tight throng of people. Not so OSLO; there was plenty of space, a proper low-level stage, decent lighting and enough room for a five-piece band such as Fur.
By the time the band went on the place was rammed with well over 150 people. Given their influences I was surprised to see the crowd was mostly at the younger end of the scale, with a few oldies propping up the walls, beer in hand, at the back. According to their Facebook page, their tour has attracted wide interest and several high-level celebs have been spotted in the audience. They are clearly on their way to big things!
The band is a few dates into their UK tour to promote their new album ‘When You Walk Away’ and a generous number of songs from the new album are showcased for our delight and delectation in Hackney. They leave for a seven-date North American tour in March 2021 and our friends across the pond are in for a treat. Whilst the fashion styling and clear influences of the 60s easybeat sound shine through, this is not a mere tribute act regurgitating days gone by. Instead, they have managed to combine recognisable melodic and vocal influences of the 60s with a more modern soft indie rock feel that is both new yet instantly familiar, and very easy on the ears. It was, in fact, an absolute pleasure and the adoring and respectful fans loved every second of it.
Engaging frontman William Murray, on vocals and guitar, talks to the crowd and holds them gleefully in his hands while whipping through up-tempo favourites, occasionally interspersed with a few down-tempo acoustic numbers, sometimes joined by the enigmatic and smouldering righthand man on lead guitar Joshua Buchanan. The songs are multi-dimensional while still rooted in the 60s-infuenced styles. The full band, with Willian Taverner on bass and Flynn Whelan on the skins, and newly joined by Harvey Dent on keys rounding out the sound, are tight and accomplished. A curfew meant the set ended around 10pm and the adoring crowd eventually went home very happy. Fur must be rightfully proud of what they have achieved since their inception in Brighton a few years ago.
Fur Are:
William Murray – lead vocals, guitars
Joshua Buchanan – lead guitar
William ‘Tav’ Taverner – bass guitar
Harvey Dent – Keyboards
Flynn Whelan – drums
Setlist:
1.) When you walk Away Pt.1
2.) The Fine Line of a Quiet Life
3.) Nothing Until Something
4.) Anybody Else But Me
5.) Grow UP
6.) Not Enough
7.) Untitled
8.) 17 to 8
9.) Him and Her
10.) Wild Heart
11.) Love You All The Time
12.) No Good For You
13.) If You Know That I’m Lonely
14.) She’s The Warmest Colour in my Mind
15.) Can’t Help Falling in Love
16.) Angel Eyes
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Passionate live music photographer operating under the name Marvellous Gig Photography. Available for gigs, festivals and other events plus promo shoots for socials, flyers and merch.
Based in Southeast United Kingdom.
