The strobe lights in Myth Live lit up many faces and applause filled the packed venue last Thursday night as Foals walked on stage without any introduction. They wordlessly picked up their instruments and started playing a guitar-heavy song called “Snake Oil” that got the crowd moving, as lead vocalist and guitarist Yannis Philippakis stared intensely into the mass of shifting bodies.

This moment seemed to last throughout the English indie rock band’s entire one-hour set: No nonsense and little between-song banter, as the band played a healthy mixture of guitar-focused, dancey and more laidback songs. Although the audience seemed a bit tired, Philippakis was able to easily stir them at times, with his random jaunts into the crowd, his guitar playing on the barricade and his last song stage dive that had Myth Live roaring.

Foals is no stranger to getting an audience excited. They are recognized as one of the top live acts in the UK and just a quick Google search will bring up results that show just how wild the band can be on stage.

As well as being a hugely recognizable live act, Foals has toured internationally for over 10 years, won several awards, released four studio albums and played huge music festivals such as Coachella and Glastonbury.

This reputation preceded them on Thursday night, as they launched into one of their most popular tracks, “My Number.” The crowd flowed and swayed, people bobbed up and down and the bright colored lights illuminated a large number of hands in the air.

The highlight from the set was when Foals played “Mountain at my Gates,” a catchy, drum-heavy track from their 2014 album “What Went Down” that is often in rotation on 89.3 The Current. Band member Jack Bevan pounded aggressively on his drums and Philippakis yelled into the microphone, energetic and alive. The lighting during this song bathed the venue in a blue-ish glow that gave the powerful track an atmospheric and exciting feel.

This otherworldly, cathartic atmosphere permeated through Myth Live even after Foals closed their set and left the stage. The fact that Foals is one of the top live acts in the UK was clearly seen on Thursday night; even thousands of miles from home they can still muster the energy to put on a great live show and connect with audience members.

Being able to connect with the audience was helped by the venue choice. Myth Live was a perfect place for Foals to play: large enough to fit the excited crowd, but small enough to still feel a closeness with the band.

After Foals left the stage there was a brief intermission before headliners Silversun Pickups picked up their instruments and continued what Foals had started. The Los Angeles band’s highly distorted guitars and dual male/female vocals paired perfectly with Foals’ sound.

Silversun Pickups talked more in between songs, but they seemed excited to be in Minnesota and appreciative of the other bands on the tour. Their fuzzy alternative rock songs were an excellent way to cap off an already lively night.

Having Foals and Silversun Pickups play together was an outstanding idea. Both groups not only put together powerful sets, they also bring a diverse range of people together; people who were hopefully able to forget about everything for a while and get lost in the dynamic rhythms of two dedicated bands.

Although Silversun Pickups headlined the show, it was Foals who set the tone of the night and woke the audience up from their sleepy state. The band clearly knows how to rouse a crowd and their one-hour set ebbed and flowed with finesse, seeming to be methodically assembled.

 
For more information about Foals and their upcoming shows, visit www.foals.co.uk, and for more information about Silversun Pickups visit silversunpickups.com.