Back in Bristol after their first headline tour in October last year, Franc Moody demonstrated that they’ve come a long way in that short space of time - and that’s saying something considering how good they were at Exchange.
The fast-rising funk collective only formed a few years ago but they’ve already found the recipe for a superb live show which creates an unparalleled party atmosphere, perhaps thanks to their background in North London’s warehouse rave scene.
After impressive support from Bristol-based Tungz, the six-piece take to the stage and kick off with a slick instrumental section which immediately sets the tone, jam-packed with groove and funky bass riffs that would impress even Nile Rodgers.
Maybe it’s partly down to the fact most - or quite possibly everyone - aboard Thekla has been out in the sun drinking all day, but there’s a notably lively atmosphere from the get go and all six band members clearly feed off it, reciprocating the energy levels.
They launch into Pheromones, one of their earliest releases, and large parts of the crowd are singing along to every word - testament to the band’s song-writing capabilities.
Virtually all of their releases to date possess a hook and chorus infectious enough to put the NHS on high alert and that most definitely applies to their newest track, She’s Too Good For Me, the first off their forthcoming debut album.
Despite the fact it’s fairly fresh out the studio, those fans who belted every word of Pheromones seem to already have the lyrics locked down to it too.
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The band take things down a notch with an oboe solo which is sadly too quiet to have any real impact before playing Night Flight, arguably one of their best tracks, the crowd are treated to Dream In Colour from the new album. It acts as a tantalising taste of things to come.
The calls for an encore are so loud they nearly take the roof off Thekla and there’s a spring in the step of everyone as they leave the ship - including all members of the band, no doubt.
If you’re looking for a band who get a crowd moving and create a party atmosphere no matter what, look no further than the fantastic Franc Moody. They sound good on record and even better live.
