Review: Dream Wife, Strange Brew – ‘A raucous riot’

The evening began for me on a bustling sunny harbourside with a quick drink outside the Arnolfini before scooting off to tonight eagerly awaited sold-out Dream Wife show at Strange Brew.

I had been eager to go back to this venue after going there before and absolutely loving it as a venue.

I got there just in time to see the first of three acts on the bill tonight. Ash Kenazi self-proclaimed ‘queen of jewellery’ takes to the stage dressed in latex which it does take too long before that is shed!

Kenazi is walking through the crowd switching from operatic and popping on a t shirt saying ‘STOP BEING STRAIGHT’ one I regrettably didn’t buy (next time).

A wonderful surprise and one that had the crowd well and truly happy and warmed up.

Next up are Prima Queen. I’d been equally as excited to see them as Dream Wife. Chew My Cheeks had been going through my head all week and I was so happy they played it first!

They effortlessly harmonise the refrain ‘your masochistic game I know hurts it hurts, but I like the taste’, their voices seem connected and blend like a dream.

Fresh from their Saturday matinee show earlier they are clearly happy to be here. Milk Teeth makes my heart rock, as I knew it would.

“This next one’s about crying/hiding in the toilet” it’s make you want to cry and smile at the same time which summed up my emotions exactly during the song.

They end with Eclipse a great set ender as it ups the tempo and has people dancing in a now full strange brew. Perfection.

Dream Wife finally storm on stage. I found it hard not to film everything going on in this gig and stay in the moment.

They’re energy is out of this world. Bass player Bella Podpadec has endless unrivalled energy. I think I counted 25 karate kicks, spins and twirls.

Singer Rakel Mjoll demands and shouts, with the gig feeling like a celebration. From start to finish, the gig had everyone moshing, almost as much as the band.

Bella, bass player launches into the crowd as is playing bass in my face, guitarist Alice Go towers over the crowd leather clad on top of the amps as if threatening to jump into to the raucous crowd.

They then had a treat for the adoring Strange Brew crowd, as they invertedly skipped a song to play t.A.T.u’s classic All The Things She Said dedicated to all trans and queer people.

I nip over and ask Phil who’s been to every show in the tour so far and he tells me “this is the best yet” – I’m happy with that!

Let’s Make Out plays havoc with my Plantar fascitis! I couldn’t not jump up and down with everyone front centre.

Heart Breaker (originally called Hey Mike apparently) is the bands biggest song and has everyone involved and shouting straight back at the band as they leap in unison with a few more flying kicks.

I love Strange Brew!

What a venue and what a band Dream Wife are! One fan struggling to breath and drenched in sweat could only manage the word ‘electric’ as his exhausted review.

This is the first time I have ever bought a t-shirt before seeing a band before. I clearly had a good feeling as they rocked the faces off the smiling crowd this evening, this gig was full of hope, smiling, jumping and shouting.

A raucous riot in every way.

Main photo: Matt Barnes

Read next:

• Review: Do Nothing, Thekla – ‘Angular riffs and high energy’
• Review: Alexander O’Neal, Central Warehouse – ‘A chance to see a legend’
• Review: PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGDS PIGS, SWX – ‘They command the crowd’

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