Not many bands can say that they sold out their first UK headline show, but that is a claim that The Funeral Portrait, hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, can now make. Off the back of their run of various US and European festival shows and their almost constant touring schedules, they had also booked their first headline UK shows – selling out Manchester and coming extraordinarily close to selling out London too, which is phenomenal for the second time a band has been over to England, the first time playing support for The Rasmus last year.
Amassing already a huge fanbase with their thumping drums, melodic yet thrashing guitars, and incredibly soul-felt lyrics, alongside their collaborations with already established behemoths such as Ivan Moody from Five Finger Death Punch, Spencer Charnas from Ice Nine Kills, and Bert McCracken of The Used, The Funeral Portrait are on a meteoric rise to success supported by their incredibly devoted, and rapidly growing fanbase.
Supporting are The Howling, another rapidly growing band from Leeds with their dramatic stage presence, vividly stunning lyrics, and powerful guitar lines who are also set for bigger things. Opening up the show with endless energy and a stage presence reminiscent of My Chemical Romance, they smash through their newest EP Salvo alongside their very unique and bouncy cover of “Like a Prayer” and future hit “Incantation”. Sweeping around in his leather trench coat like a spooktacular emo Brandon Lee, frontman Mikey Lord definitely heated up the room (alongside the past week’s heatwave) to ensure the crowd were fully worked up and ready for The Funeral Portrait‘s first full UK ‘devotion ceremony’.
Leading his band on stage, cutting an ever-distinctive figure, spectacularly tall and elegant with bright green hair and a sparkly jacket, frontman Lee Jennings opens up with their cover of “Mad World”. He then spins, punches, and blasts his way through their incredibly varied and heartfelt set, keeping the crowd on their feet, hanging off each word with his incredible energy and charisma – including an unexpected brief break to discuss Freddo bars, and an emotional thanks to the crowd for selling out their first UK headliner. Their set included fan favourites such as “Dark Thoughts”, recounting his mental health struggles, the poignant “Hearse for Two”, recounting his late grandmother’s passing, and (probably my favourite) the anxiety-riddled “Target Lock”.
The full band manage to create such an immersive experience for fans new and old, that the entire crowd is packed front to back and all seem to be having the best time dancing, singing, and engaging with the crowd work. Proving that they are a band truly for the fans, they ensured that at the end of the gig they spent as much time as possible engaging with the crowd, taking time out to take pictures and have a chat with everyone who wanted to.
I’m absolutely without a doubt that The Funeral Portrait will be back in the UK again soon and playing to even bigger crowds still, and am very excited to see where they go – with such a varied back catalogue and talented band members, I’m sure the sky is the limit.
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Pics by Charlotte Emily Photography
