Elbow return to WFUV for a radiant FUV Live session that captures the warmth, humor, and musical connection that define the band. The performance is also available via the “FUV Live Sessions” podcast, extending WFUV’s long-running tradition of intimate live sessions and interviews into a new weekly format with episodes dropping every Monday.
The session arrives alongside Elbow’s renewed North American presence, following their autumn 2025 tour, their first visit since 2017. That run followed the release of ‘Audio Vertigo’ and the 2025 EP ‘Audio Vertigo Echo’, a period documented with joy and gratitude across the band’s social channels and reflected clearly in their relaxed, confident performances.
‘Audio Vertigo’ stands as a groove-forward, invigorating record and a creative reset for Guy Garvey, Craig Potter, Mark Potter, Pete Turner, and Alex Reeves. The album draws enthusiastic responses for its rhythmic energy and emotional clarity, sitting comfortably alongside the band’s expansive catalog while opening a fresh chapter.
For this FUV Live session, Elbow perform a beautifully balanced trio of songs spanning eras: “Her to the Earth,” “The Seldom Seen Kid,” and “Magnificent (She Says).” Joined by Cat Parker and Fiona Brice on strings, and Sarah Field and Carol Jarvis on brass, the nine-piece lineup fills the studio with depth, color, and cohesion.
During the interview, Garvey reflects on the late Bryan Glancy, whose spirit continues to echo through Elbow’s music, particularly in “The Seldom Seen Kid.” The conversation also touches on the making of ‘Flying Dream 1’ and the band’s affection for playing intimate U.S. venues, with Garvey describing New York crowds as powered by goodwill and cooperation, a feeling that sings back from the audience.