Super Furry Animals

anth25

Well-known member
Just thought I'd post to see if there is much love for these guys on here.

For me, easily one of the best bands to come from these shores and in Gruff Rhys they have one of the greatest songwriters in my generation.

However I feel they often get overlooked probably because they had a tendency of self sabotage, maybe because they never really wanted the limelight in the way some of the other bands from the time did. Mountain People is a perfect example. The first four minutes are glorious and would stand up to any of the big ballads of the time that the likes of Blur, Pulp or Oasis were knocking out. However the last two and a half minutes turn into a distorted techno rave, which is great, but might put off the more casual listener. Turning £1m down from Coca Cola for the use of one of their songs another example. Or having a song with the world record for the most uses of f*ck is not exactly the right way to get radio plays!! But I guess that while these sorts of things are what might of held them back from becoming huge it is probably what makes them interesting to those that do like them

Anyway be interested to hear what others think. What are your favourite tracks?

 
Love them and Gruff Rhys book, film and album about Welsh adventurer John Evans is wonderful I think, American Interior.
To see Gruff playing in a hall in Great Ayton was almost as surreal as the rest of 2020. To lead him to the top of Roseberry Topping chatting about James Cook and John Evans was quite wonderful. Such an amazing guy.
I recounted how I once spent the night freezing to death trying to sleep in a van of musical equipment parked outside the SLF guitarist previous band U Thant in suburban Cardiff. Am sure he had several thousand better stories on the road.
 
Love them and Gruff Rhys book, film and album about Welsh adventurer John Evans is wonderful I think, American Interior.
To see Gruff playing in a hall in Great Ayton was almost as surreal as the rest of 2020. To lead him to the top of Roseberry Topping chatting about James Cook and John Evans was quite wonderful. Such an amazing guy.
I recounted how I once spent the night freezing to death trying to sleep in a van of musical equipment parked outside the SLF guitarist previous band U Thant in suburban Cardiff. Am sure he had several thousand better stories on the road.
Went to see him in Hebden Bridge when he toured American Interior. Was a brilliant night.

Very jealous of you taking him up Roseberry Topping. Comes across as a really humble, funny, decent, laidback guy. The kind you'd happily sink a few beers with
 
Love them and Gruff Rhys book, film and album about Welsh adventurer John Evans is wonderful I think, American Interior.
To see Gruff playing in a hall in Great Ayton was almost as surreal as the rest of 2020. To lead him to the top of Roseberry Topping chatting about James Cook and John Evans was quite wonderful. Such an amazing guy.
I recounted how I once spent the night freezing to death trying to sleep in a van of musical equipment parked outside the SLF guitarist previous band U Thant in suburban Cardiff. Am sure he had several thousand better stories on the road.

very surreal, on par i think with seeing:

Morrissey at Hartlepool Town Hall
Bodies of Water at the Westgarth
Robyn Hitchcock at Huddersfield Library (around midday aswell)
 
Love them and Gruff Rhys book, film and album about Welsh adventurer John Evans is wonderful I think, American Interior.
To see Gruff playing in a hall in Great Ayton was almost as surreal as the rest of 2020. To lead him to the top of Roseberry Topping chatting about James Cook and John Evans was quite wonderful. Such an amazing guy.
I recounted how I once spent the night freezing to death trying to sleep in a van of musical equipment parked outside the SLF guitarist previous band U Thant in suburban Cardiff. Am sure he had several thousand better stories on the road.
Out of interest what made him pick Great Ayton? Anything specific?
 
Out of interest what made him pick Great Ayton? Anything specific?
Last year Hartlepool promoter Andy Kelly was booking acts on village hall tours - great idea you can go to village halls in Teesdale and see 200 cramming in to see a blues guitarist from New York. Or Hutton Rudby where the musical minister there fills the hall with over 150 for top alternative folk acts. Andy booked Great Ayton with Elaine Palmer who performs nationally and also promotes locally. Gruff came with ex Flaming Lips drummer Kliph Scurlock. They toured in a transit van staying at the Royal Oak. They both loved the gig, the village and the walk up Roseberry on a lovely, bright Feb day. Kliph couldn't climb to the top as he was still getting over really bad flu virus, which makes you think now.
 
I must have seen SFA at least 5 times if not more, they are one of my favourite bands and are brilliant live. Have you read the book “The Rise of the Super Furry Animals” by Ric Rawlins? It’s a great read if you are a fan.
 
I must have seen SFA at least 5 times if not more, they are one of my favourite bands and are brilliant live. Have you read the book “The Rise of the Super Furry Animals” by Ric Rawlins? It’s a great read if you are a fan.
Yeah it's a great book. Some brilliant stories particularly the one about the tank. I reckon if I could join any band it would be them. A proper band of brothers that have stuck together throughout. Bet they've had some great laughs over the years
 
I love SFA. My greatest ever gig moment came when I saw them at Glastonbury.

The had just finished their set and left us with the swirling psychedelic nightmare of the techno outro to "the man don't give a fudge". When a van drives through the crowd right behind me. People try and climb on the van, to which the passenger gets out and starts shoving people off. Like some weird "King of the castle" competition. Meanwhile, Mogwai have come on to the stage and are nodding slowly to the music. Dressed as vegetables.

Because. Well that's what you expect from an SFA gig.
 
I love SFA. My greatest ever gig moment came when I saw them at Glastonbury.

The had just finished their set and left us with the swirling psychedelic nightmare of the techno outro to "the man don't give a fudge". When a van drives through the crowd right behind me. People try and climb on the van, to which the passenger gets out and starts shoving people off. Like some weird "King of the castle" competition. Meanwhile, Mogwai have come on to the stage and are nodding slowly to the music. Dressed as vegetables.

Because. Well that's what you expect from an SFA gig.
I should say I know someone who has met them too and they were properly nice down to earth fellas. There are no heirs and grace to Gruff.
 
I love SFA. My greatest ever gig moment came when I saw them at Glastonbury.

The had just finished their set and left us with the swirling psychedelic nightmare of the techno outro to "the man don't give a fudge". When a van drives through the crowd right behind me. People try and climb on the van, to which the passenger gets out and starts shoving people off. Like some weird "King of the castle" competition. Meanwhile, Mogwai have come on to the stage and are nodding slowly to the music. Dressed as vegetables.

Because. Well that's what you expect from an SFA gig.
There's a clip of that on their facebook page. Looks absolutely mental!!! Love TMDGAF live
 
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