Head First is the fifth concert tour from British band Goldfrapp in support of their fifth studio album, Head First, released in March 2010.
Development
The tour was announced in early February 2010, with the release of their new album by their record company Mute. 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."
Dates for the United Kingdom were announced on the band's website on 12 July 2010.
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). 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
Voicething (Intro) Crystalline Green Train I Wanna Life A&E You Never Know Head First Number 1 Believer Shiny & Warm Alive Ride a White Horse (extended) Ooh La La Utopia Rocket Strict Machine (We are glitter)
Main order of songs - Order has changed in some cases.
Voicething (intro) Crystalline Green I Wanna Life A&E You Never Know Head First Number 1 Dreaming Believer Alive Shiny & Warm Train Ride A White Horse (extended) Ooh La La Utopia Black Cherry Rocket 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.
Main order of songs - order has changed in some cases.
Voicething (intro) Crystalline Green You Never Know Dreaming I Wanna Life Head First Number 1 Alive Believer Shiny & Warm Train Ride a White Horse (extended) Ooh La La Black Cherry Little Bird Lovely Head Rocket Strict Machine (We are glitter)
Additional notes:
"Hunt" was added for the Norwich concert. "Rocket" was removed in Bristol.
Voicething
Utopia
You Never Know
Head First
Dreaming
Number 1
Believer
Alive
Shiny and Warm
Train
Ride a White Horse (extended) Ooh La La Rocket 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.".
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."
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."