August 21, 2008 9:54

Foals play tiny Reading And Leeds Festivals warm-up

Oxford band air new 'ideas' during London show

Photo Gallery: Foals

Foals played a tiny warm-up show for the Reading And Leeds Festivals last night (August 20) at the London Cross Kings venue.

Taking to the pub's stage at 10.15pm (BST) in front of a 150-strong crowd, the Oxford band used the opportunity to air new "ideas" as they begin writing the follow up to their debut album, 'Antidotes'.

While there were no fully-formed or titled new songs on show, the band played three extended jams.

Speaking about the jams, frontman Yannis Phillipakis said: "Just to clarify, we're gonna be playing some stuff that's unfinished. No-one wants to hear a square [boring] set in somewhere like this do they?"

The new ideas were introduced jokily as "jazz intermissions" and saw the singer/guitarist experiment with vocals effects and guitarist Jimmy Smith showcased a guitar sound denser to his work on the band's previous efforts.

As well as the untitled jams Foals played:

'The French Open'
'Cassius'
'Olympic Airways'
'Balloons'
'Heavy Water'
'Two Steps Twice'
'Rex Sox Pugie'
'Hummer'
'Electric Bloom'

See this week’s issue of NME to read an interview with the band about their new sound, and how they were bidding against Vincent Gallo on eBay to buy new instruments to record their next album on.

The band are set to play on the NME/Radio 1 Stage at the Reading Festival on Saturday (August 23) then at the Leeds Festival on Sunday (24).

NME.COM is bringing you live coverage straight from both sites of the Reading And Leeds Festivals 2008. For the latest news, blogs, pictures and video interviews head to the Reading And Leeds Festivals index now.