Head First World Tour

Head First is the fifth concert tour from British band Goldfrapp in support of their fifth studio album, Head First, released in March 2010.

Head First World Tour
Tour by Goldfrapp
Associated albumHead First
Start date7 June 2010
End date26 November 2010
No. of shows47 shows in total
Goldfrapp concert chronology

Development

The tour was announced in early February 2010, with the release of their new album by their record company Mute.[1] The band announced dates in Europe, Australia and North America, where they played the famous Hollywood Bowl. It was announced by Mute that the band would play festivals throughout summer 2010, then embark on their tour. Before the festivals, however, they were due to play their American dates as stated here officially: "Goldfrapp will take Head First to select US cities this summer - following the massive acclaim for both the Supernature and Seventh Tree tours and festival appearances around the world, Goldfrapp have underlined their reputation as one of the most transcendent and inventive live bands around."[2]

Dates for the United Kingdom were announced on the band's website on 12 July 2010.[3]

Show

Goldfrapp open with "Voicething" as the band come on stage, with smoke billowing out of the stage. Alison then appears and launches into "Crystalline Green", with a green light show playing around her. Each song from this point uses the lights, with different colours. The background of the stage is a massive Space Doughnut.

Band

The band consists of 5 members (including Alison Goldfrapp).[4] These are:

  • Charlie Jones - bass guitar
  • Daisy Palmer - drums, backing vocals
  • Angie Pollock - keyboards, backing vocals
  • Davide Rossi - keyboards, guitar, violin, backing vocals

Set list
Warm Up Gigs
  1. Voicething (Intro)
  2. Crystalline Green
  3. Train
  4. I Wanna Life
  5. A&E
  6. You Never Know
  7. Head First
  8. Number 1
  9. Believer
  10. Shiny & Warm
  11. Alive
  12. Ride a White Horse (extended)
  13. Ooh La La
  14. Utopia
  15. Rocket
  16. Strict Machine (We are glitter)
Main set list

Main order of songs - Order has changed in some cases.

  1. Voicething (intro)
  2. Crystalline Green
  3. I Wanna Life
  4. A&E
  5. You Never Know
  6. Head First
  7. Number 1
  8. Dreaming
  9. Believer
  10. Alive
  11. Shiny & Warm
  12. Train
  13. Ride A White Horse (extended)
  14. Ooh La La
  15. Utopia
  16. Black Cherry
  17. Rocket
  18. Strict Machine (We are glitter)

Additional notes:

  • "Dreaming" was added and "You Never Know" was removed from the set list in Washington.
  • "You Never Know" was re-added in New York.
  • "Utopia" was removed from the set list in Mexico.
  • "Hunt" was added for the Norwich concert.
UK set list

Main order of songs - order has changed in some cases.

  1. Voicething (intro)
  2. Crystalline Green
  3. You Never Know
  4. Dreaming
  5. I Wanna Life
  6. Head First
  7. Number 1
  8. Alive
  9. Believer
  10. Shiny & Warm
  11. Train
  12. Ride a White Horse (extended)
  13. Ooh La La
  14. Black Cherry
  15. Little Bird
  16. Lovely Head
  17. Rocket
  18. Strict Machine (We are glitter)

Additional notes:

  • "Hunt" was added for the Norwich concert.
  • "Rocket" was removed in Bristol.
Festivals set list
  1. Voicething
  2. Utopia
  3. You Never Know
  4. Head First
  5. Dreaming
  6. Number 1
  7. Believer
  8. Alive
  9. Shiny and Warm
  10. Train
  11. Ride a White Horse (extended)
  12. Ooh La La
  13. Rocket
  14. Strict Machine (We are glitter)

Critical reception

Concerts

Reviews for the tour have all been positive. Spinner, talking of the Hollywood Bowl appearance, said, "Golfrapp made her way through 12 songs backed by a tight four-piece band. If the band was daunted at all by the huge stage of the Bowl, they never showed it, opening with a version of 'Crystalline Green' that won the crowd over from the outset. The group really hit its stride halfway through the set, as two songs from the new 'Head First' album -- the pop-laden 'Believer' and 'Alive' -- had fans dancing in the Bowl aisles.".[5]

The Washington Post review was also very positive, stating, "Goldfrapp has built up quite a cult. The performance was sold out and a few devout fans even showed up wearing blonde wigs. Over an hour and a half set Goldfrapp changed costumes--musical and otherwise--a few times, putting a digital spin on pretty much every genre that has ever aspired to fabulousness--including glam-rock, disco, and a few Bond-theme-worthy ballads. It was a familiar sound with a futuristic finish."[6]

The Entertainment Weekly review of the New York gig's headline was "Goldfrapp at NYC's Hammerstein Ballroom....It's Finally Lovely 2 C U" also stated, "'Voicething' was a brilliant opener, launching right into the thumping 'Crystalline Green' from 2003′s Black Cherry. Alison, in full sparkle mode, started stomping around right away and quickly lost herself in a dizzying feast of outstretched arms and those ethereal wails we know and love."[7]

Australian magazine TheVine's review was positive, with the reviewer stating "she has an amazing range that puts her in the same league as Kate Bush." They also stated, "Goldfrapp will take you on a journey through the darkened slums, the seedy clubs, the flamboyant nightspots and the palatial high rises."[8]

On the start of their UK tour, reviews have been positive. ThisisBristol proclaimed, "In a pop world almost devoid of eccentricity and risk-taking, thank God for Alison Goldfrapp." Giving them 7/10, they also stated "Much copied, never bettered, Goldfrapp's disco weirdness is still a treat."

Festival reviews

The Big Issue gave a positive review: "Alison Goldfrapp has to win some kind of prize for most stylish lady of the weekend. TBI feels rude for being so covered in mud in her presence, as she sways in a sparkly black poncho (billowed by a strategically placed fan...). The incredibly visual set is punctuated by hit after hit ('Number One', 'White Horse', 'Train'), all led by Goldfrapp's sensual, ethereal vocals and underwritten by undulating synths and retro basslines. "Scotland, you’re gorgeous", she says. No, Alison. You are."[9]

The Scotsman commented, "Goldfrapp brought their usual artfully choreographed flamboyance and glamour to another full-on irresistible performance."[10]

Tour dates
Date City Country Venue
7 June 2010 Oxford England O2 Academy Oxford
8 June 2010 Leamington Spa The Assembly
11 June 2010 Moscow Russia B1 Maximum
21 June 2010 Washington, D.C. United States 9:30 Club
23 June 2010 New York City Hammerstein Ballroom
26 June 2010 Oakland Fox Oakland Theatre
27 June 2010 Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl
29 June 2010 Mexico City Mexico José Cuervo Salón
9 July 2010 Punchestown Ireland Punchestown Racecourse
11 July 2010 Balado Scotland T in the Park
15 July 2010 Cabedelo Portugal Marés Vivas Festival
17 July 2010 Benicàssim Spain Festival Internacional de Benicàssim Heineken
18 July 2010 Ferropolis Germany Melt! Festival
22 July 2010 London England iTunes Festival
29 July 2010 Sydney Australia Luna Park
30 July 2010 Brisbane The Tivoli
1 August 2010 Woodford Splendour in the Grass
3 August 2010 Melbourne Palace Theatre
14 August 2010 Avenches Switzerland Rock Oz'Arènes
16 August 2010 Luxembourg Luxembourg Den Atelier
18 August 2010 Amsterdam Netherlands Paradiso
21 August 2010 Chelmsford England V Festival
22 August 2010 Stafford
28 August 2010 London L.E.D. Festival
22 September 2010 Lisbon Portugal Coliseu dos Recreios
24 September 2010 Barcelona Spain BAM (Barcelona Acció Cultural)
25 September 2010 Madrid La Riviera
27 September 2010 Cologne Germany Essigfabrik
28 September 2010 Lille France L'Aeronef
30 September 2010 Hamburg Germany Docks
2 October 2010 Berlin Astra Kulturhaus
4 October 2010 Munich Muffathalle
5 October 2010 Zurich Switzerland X-TRA Hotel
7 October 2010 Milan Italy Magazzini Generali
8 October 2010 Ljubljana Slovenia Kino Siska Centre
12 October 2010 Prague Czech Republic Sasazu Club
13 October 2010 Vienna Austria Gasometer
15 October 2010 Warsaw Poland Free Form Festival
17 October 2010 Copenhagen Denmark Vega Concert Hall
18 October 2010 Oslo Norway Rockefeller Music Hall
8 November 2010 Norwich England UEA
9 November 2010 Bristol O2 Academy Bristol
11 November 2010 London Hammersmith Apollo
13 November 2010 Brighton Brighton Dome
14 November 2010 Birmingham O2 Academy Birmingham
16 November 2010 Leeds O2 Academy Leeds
17 November 2010 Manchester Manchester Academy
19 November 2010 Glasgow Scotland O2 Academy Glasgow
20 November 2010 Newcastle England O2 Academy Newcastle
22 November 2010 Paris France Theatre Le Trianon
23 November 2010 Brussels Belgium Ancienne Belgique
25 November 2010 Drogheda Ireland TLT Theatre*
26 November 2010 Dublin Olympia Theatre
27 November 2010
  • A free show as part of the Heineken Green Spheres, a free music series in Ireland

Sold-out shows

The show on 26 November in Dublin sold out, and due to high demand a second date was immediately announced.[11]

References
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20081019125052/http://www.mute.com/loadAllNews.do?id=271. Archived from the original on 19 October 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20100704070334/http://www.goldfrapp.com/news. Archived from the original on 4 July 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. "Celebrity News, Gossip and Photo Galleries - HuffPost Celebrity UK". Spinnermusic.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  6. Malitz, David (22 June 2010). "Click Track - In concert: Goldfrapp at 9:30 club". Blog.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  7. Franich, Darren. "Goldfrapp at NYC's Hammerstein Ballroom: It was Lovely 2 finally C U | The Music Mix | EW.com". Music-mix.ew.com. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  8. "Live review, photos - Goldfrapp, Melbourne 2010 - Life & pop culture, untangled". TheVine. Archived from the original on 17 August 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20100716193025/http://www.bigissuescotland.com/reviews/view/118. Archived from the original on 16 July 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. "T in the Park review: Sunday - News - Scotsman.com". News.scotsman.com. 12 July 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20110727133006/http://www.goldenplec.com/2010/10/16/goldfrapp-announce-extra-olympia-date/. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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