The ‘Roig Arena’ itself can hold up to 20,000 people and its Auditorium has a capacity for 2,000 people. That same night, Monica Naranjo was playing the main stage in a different part of the building to thousands and thousands of local fans. It made for a slightly surreal (sartorial) contrast when it came to the two sets of fans! However, the vibe was very positive everywhere you went. On a cool autumn night in Valencia, fans streamed into the newly built Roig Arena Auditorium, a venue that seemed tailor-made for ‘The Psychedelic Furs’ whose music has always balanced grandeur with intimacy. By the time the lights dimmed, the hall was alive with expectation — the kind that only forms around a cult group with a lifelong following and a catalogue etched into several generations of memory.
Support band Dear Boy Set the Tone
Opening band Dear Boy delivered a tight, emotionally charged set. Their blend of post-punk polish and melodic alt-rock made them an unexpectedly seamless pairing with the Furs, warming up the audience with sincere energy and shimmering textures.
The Psychedelic Furs Take the Stage
Then came the moment: Richard Butler, all charisma and coiled theatricality, stepped into the light as the band launched straight into “Heaven.” It was an opener that instantly dissolved the years — the crowd singing along to every line. The singer punched the air in rhythm to the drum pattern between verses, leading the crowd and showing his commitment to the performance and the songs from the off. From there, the Furs guided Valencia through a curated journey spanning eras, moods, and emotional temperatures. Bassist Tim Butler has charisma in spades, like his brother, with a rock ‘n’ roll swagger that adds a flamboyance to the performance too.
________________________________________
Full Setlist & Highlights
1. Heaven
Beginning with one of their most soaring, romantic tracks set the emotional tone of the night — atmospheric, nostalgic, and triumphant.
2. President Gas
A burst of political bite and swagger. Butler’s delivery had a sharpness that gave the song contemporary weight.
3. Wrong Train
A standout from Made of Rain, performed with brooding intensity. The deep, rumbling rhythm section filled the arena beautifully.
4. The Ghost in You
One of the night’s most beautiful moments: Butler’s voice soft but aching, backed by shimmering synths. Somein the crowd closed their eyes and swayed.
5. The Boy That Invented Rock ’n’ Roll
Moody, hypnotic, and powerful live — the song’s slow build felt enormous in Roig Arena.
6. Mr. Jones
The energy surged again, with gritty guitar textures and an urgent rhythm that got heads nodding across the venue.
7. My Time
Understated and elegant, Butler leaned into the song’s reflective tone.
8. No-One
Dark, propulsive, and atmospheric — a perfect example of the band’s ability to make melancholy feel cinematic.
9. Love My Way
A universal eruption of joy. Amanda Kramer’s iconic marimba synth line triggered an immediate sing-along.
One of the night’s peak communal moments.
10. In My Head
A sharp and modern track that blended seamlessly with the classics.
11. Run and Run
Melodic and romantic, the band delivered this with a warmth that felt especially intimate.
12. Until She Comes
Soft, dreamy, and beautifully rendered. A calm breath before the final sprint.
13. Pretty in Pink
A crowd favourite — an explosion of recognition and movement. Butler gave it a playful, charismatic performance.
14. Heartbreak Beat
A high-energy closer to the main set, with the audience dancing, clapping, and singing every word.
________________________________________
Encore
15. It Goes On
The encore began with this deep cut — hypnotic, driving, and emotionally potent.
16. India
As always, “India” was a masterstroke choice to end the night: primal, sprawling, and atmospheric. The slow build into chaos — that unmistakable bassline — filled the arena with tension, release, and catharsis. The rhythm guitarist became a lead guitarist for this final song and his wild and extended solo took the song to a higher place, it was a magical way to end the night. In Spanish, it is called ‘duende’. Indeed, the crowd erupted when the last note fell away. Rock ‘n’ roll, at its best, is still a wild & tribal celebration of life!
________________________________________
Performance & Stage Presence
Throughout the performance:
• Richard Butler stalked the stage like a theatrical storyteller, gesturing, crouching, smiling, and connecting with the crowd.
• Tim Butler’s bass was the unshakable spine of the night.
• Rico Good’s guitar work shifted flawlessly between brittle edges and lush expansiveness.
• Amanda Kramer’s keys provided the emotional glue, especially on classics like “Love My Way” and “The Ghost in You.”
• A force of nature, drummer Zachary Alford kept everything grounded with precision and power.
The lighting design — deep violets, midnight blues, and sudden flashes of white — amplified the dreamlike mood.
6. Audience Connection
From the opening bars of “Heaven” to the final swell of “India,” the audience remained intensely engaged. Generations stood together: longtime fans reliving memories, and younger faces discovering why this band continues to matter.
There was dancing, there was nostalgia, there was intrigue during the ballads — and, above all, there was gratitude. Richard Butler describes himself as a painter who sings rather than as a singer who paints. He is not technically a perfect singer but he knows how to transmit emotions through his art and, along with his impressive band, that made for a colourful & visceral concert. It was full on and never really let up.
The Psychedelic Furs delivered a concert that felt like both a celebration and a reaffirmation:
• A band with a past that shaped the sound of new wave and post-punk.
• A band with a present that remains creatively vital.
• A band with an audience whose devotion was on full display in Valencia.
It was a great night out to see this special band — emotionally rich, musically impressive and memorable too. Many thanks to the good people of ‘Roig Arena’ for their help in showing us around this new and very modern venue and their hospitality too. It’s state-of-the-art. The sound was great and that’s essential for a good night out too!
Report by Will McCarthy
Article copyright 24/7 Valencia
Photos copyright Phillip Solomonson/ ‘24/7 Valencia’
Related Post
Leave a comment