Some of you more discerning readers may have noticed SFist's anglophile tendencies, which we indulged last Saturday night by taking in The Futureheads at the Fillmore. The four deliciously British lads did not disappoint. We arrived at the venue a bit late, having stopped for a quick bite (tasty seafood appetizers and a salad at the Elite Cafe), so we walked in during the last song of first opener Every Move A Picture. Clad in black from head to toe, this SF band had a decent post-punk pop sound. We wished we'd arrived earlier to catch more of their set.

Second opener High Speed Scene took the stage with an aggressive, hook-filled Gang of Four knock-off. Unfortunately for High Speed Scene, SFist took in Gang of Four at this very same venue last month where they electrified the audience with their powerful funk/punk assault. Gang of Four were even better last month than when we saw them 25 years ago. (Yes, some of us at SFist are old enough to have experienced the 80s the first time around.) In comparison, High Speed Scene were irrelevant. Stylized pop tunes with inane lyrics don't typically get us off, and they didn't this night either. Did we mention that they weren't even trying to look cute?

Finally, The Futureheads charged onstage in a never-ending strobe light barrage that made us wish we hadn't eaten that shrimp cocktail earlier. But once the four lads from Northern England started to sing - we forgot all about the nauseating strobe light. What distinguishes them is that all four band mates sing, sometimes alternating lead vocals by trading lines in a song, but more often providing crystalline or muscular harmonies reminiscent of The Jam's finest vocal moments. The four band members' voices are similar enough that when they sing in unison, the effect is powerful and ecstatic. Their songs are crafted with insistent rhythms featuring jangly guitar work atop a relentless drumbeat. And the vocals are as furious-paced as the beats. At times our head was spinning trying to keep up with the charging choruses and verses. Or maybe it was that strobe light. Lyrically The Futureheads may not attain Gang of Four philosophical or political relevance, but they fill their songs with interesting ideas. And every song was danceable. It was a jolly good time.

Carrie Mason, contributing.

Image from The Futureheads website.