The Fat White Family have embarked on a short tour in the UK and America ahead of the release of their new album, Songs For Our Mothers. In February things get a bit more serious with a full UK tour planned to promote the album.

I was lucky enough to be invited backstage with cameras to document the show in Derby. I have no intention of creating or dismissing myths about life back stage, I will leave that up to your own imaginations. It’s the Fat White Family so let them run wild.

Dale Barclay, who you may know from the Amazing Snakeheads, joined the band as a temporary stand in for Saul. No envious task that, with pretty big boots to fill.

The band were supported by fellow Londoners and life long friends Meat Raffle, self professed specialists in sounds of the philosophy of Praxis. What was really nice to see was that the whole band went out front and supported them throughout their set. Well worth a listen.

And so to the FWF. Backstage you could feel a palpable tension rise as stage time approached, Dale was pacing about like a caged tiger, Lias and Nathan decided to have some condiment fun and Taishi, well he did some yoga-ish moves.

One of the things I’ve loved about their live shows is seeing and hearing ‘Auto Neutron’ to kick things off, its a perfect opener for the madness that ensues, but tonight they swapped things a round and opened with ‘Tin Foil’, but I didn’t need to wait long as ‘Auto Neutron’ was next up.

The band had a good 90 minutes on stage and in amongst the popular favourites like ‘Bomb Disneyland’ and ‘Is it Raining…’ the band took the opportunity to play some of the new material. I have to say that ‘Whitest Boy On The Beach’ is a cracking tune. There were a couple of slower numbers played mid set which only added to the atmosphere and tension of the gig.

Once again the band delivered what we love to see and none would have left disappointed. What about Dale? Well all I’m saying is thank God that man doesn’t have claws.

Words & Images:
Duncan Stafford
duncanstaffordphotography.com