English pop-punks The Futureheads will swing by the Casbah on October 4.
Influenced by Devo-style New Wave and post-punk Fugazi, the band has been successful since day one. Their self-titled 2004 debut immediately charmed critics and fans alike, and it hit #11 on the UK charts. The Futureheads' second album, News and Tributes, did just about as well as the first.
It only got better from there. 2008's This is Not the World hit #1 in the UK, and their June 2010 release, The Chaos, hit #3.
But don't let all these UK accolades lead you to believe that they're unheard-of in the States. The Futureheads have toured extensively and gained legions of fans across the country, and among U.S. critics, The Chaos is considered both a major step forward and a return to the band's roots.
The album has received positive reviews across the board, from Metromix ("An album you need to hear now") to Spin ("Queen-like operatic vocals and Springsteen arena flourishes"). In a similar fashion, the band generated buzz everywhere they went on their recent east coast tour.
Their stop at the Casbah on October 4 is part of their first run through the southwest in four years, and the next opportunity might not come for a while. You know what to do: get your tickets here.
T. Loper is a writer and photographer for the San Diego music blog Owl and Bear.
