LIVE FROM THE PIT: Ezra Furman and Modern Woman

In a world that seems to be becoming more and more bleak, US indie rocker LIZ FURMAN, known professionally as EZRA FURMAN, stands proud in her identity to remind us of the importance of nurturing creativity and artistry in the face of oppression. With almost 20 years of experience as a musician after forming EZRA FURMAN & THE HARPOONS during university and ten studio albums, her latest album Goodbye Small Head released in February 2025, FURMAN has seen the world and herself change throughout the years. After multiple shows in Europe and parts of the UK, FURMAN and her backing band, supported by art rock band MODERN WOMAN, conclude on a rainy Wednesday night at the O2 Forum Kentish Town.Over one thousand people were ready for FURMAN’S performance. And boy, did she deliver. 

London-based art rockers MODERN WOMAN opened the stage with a bang, serving as a prelude for what was to come. Originally founded as a solo project by vocalist and guitarist SOPHIE HARRIS, the lineup expanded to what it is now, with bassist and saxophonist JUAN BRINT-GUTIÉRREZ, drummer ADAM BLACKHURST and percussionist, keyboard and violin player DAVID DENYER joining to form MODERN WOMAN. Aiming to blend punk and folk, their first single, Juniper, was released in August 2021. Now preparing to release their debut album, Johnny's Dreamworld this May, MODERN WOMAN are gearing up for a great year ahead. Despite having one single released, MODERN WOMAN treated the pit to multiple songs from their upcoming album, with HARRIS' operatic and haunting vocals taking centre stage when performing Daniel, accompanied with minimal instrumentals from DENYER'S violin and GUTIÉRREZ'S bass. Halfway through their set, HARRIS speaks to the audience about her experience being on tour with Furman, pointing out that she previously lived in Kentish Town and walked past the O2 Forum every day, making it quite surreal that she's been able to perform here for the first time. Ending the set with lead single Dashboard Mary, ethereal synths breaking down into dissonance and distorted, masterful guitars, MODERN WOMAN have made their mark on the audience, proving that FURMAN made the right call in having them tour with her. No wonder FURMAN said "Modern Woman forever" - we're inclined to agree. 

Everything is set for FURMAN’S arrival, and she received a queen's welcome. Wasting no time, she opens with Grand Mal, a cathartic display of rage and dismay with everything around her, pumping the audience for the full extent of her emotional expression in 20 years of doing music and being creative. Halfway through, FURMAN strips back, leaving only herself and an acoustic guitar on stage. Exclusively for London, she performs Why Don't You Record One of My Songs, an amusing song about selling her songs to other artists like Carly Rae Jepsen, because "let's be honest, my fan base is fading". A dry and witty commentary on the state of the music industry for the vast majority of artists, FURMAN’S unique sense of vulnerability and honesty in her music is what has drawn so many people to her ever since her solo career started in 2012.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDCjaIB5BzJDw&v=CjaIB5BzJDw

With the band reintroduced to the stage after The Queen of Hearts, FURMAN decides to throw things back to the late 2000s with an EZRA FURMAN & THE HARPOONS song, Take Off Your Glasses, with the midwest emo aspect cranked up to the maximum. Equipped with a harmonica and a guitar, FURMAN performs this song in a new light, reflecting on how she has changed throughout the years and ad libbing about her pre-transition self, with thunderous applause and cheers from the pit. 

FURMAN returns for an encore after closing off with Can I Sleep in Your Brain/Calm Down aka I Should Not Be Alone, and she comes back with a bang, pumped to close off this show and her UK/EU tour. An evident fan favourite, Love You So Bad was met with people clapping along to the beat of the song as FURMAN performs one of the songs featured in the soundtrack of Sex Education, choosing to close off her show for good in an upbeat fashion. Finishing with the appropriately named Tell 'em All to Go to Hell, FURMAN urges the audience to "join something you believe in" and fight against the people who are "trying to crush the human spirit". Who doesn't love cursing people out in a fun and upbeat way? 

EZRA FURMAN proves that despite those in power wanting to work against our best interests, there is still hope out there in people assembling and creating something meaningful together. Addressing the audience, FURMAN points out that "I just think it's an act of freedom to share stuff and to be like creative", and it's those words that should resonate with anyone daring to create.

Words and Photos: Atoosa Salamat