Review: Wolf Alice, O2 Academy

You know you’re at the best night in Bristol when resident gig head Big Jeff is the first in the queue for doors opening. Really this is no surprise considering the caliber of the three bands on show tonight.

First up is Superfood, a whimsical duo from Birmingham with the cheery approachability of a battle of the bands finalist. Despite being first in the running they walk out to scattered, passionate cheers that reoccur every time they announce a song.

Returning to Bristol for the second time since their three year hiatus, Dom Ganderton and Ryan Malcolm are the only surviving members of the previous line up and they’re polished and confident. Mixing funk and soul into indie they bring a musical versatility that’s most evident through songs from sophomore album Bambino. They close the set with self titled song Superfood and more than a few are singing adoringly along.

Next up is Sunflower Bean. A three piece from Brooklyn, featuring Julia Cummings on bass and lead vocals, Nick Kivlen on guitar and Jacob Faber on the drums. Cummings kicks it off shouting, “let’s make some music” as they dive headfirst into their celestial, psychedelic take on rock.

Cummings’ vocals switch almost instantly between ferocious and angry to soft and mellow and it’s this contrast that propels their set along. Minutes can go by as they hypnotise through instruments alone, rushing forward to a point of culmination when Cummings can let loose, allowing the crowd to do the same. The whole performance is mesmerisingly honed with an appealing rawness and it whistles through highlights from debut LP Human Ceremony. If you want to catch them again, Sunflower Bean return to Bristol next April for a headline show.

As soon as the lights dim for Wolf Alice a massive roar rings out from the crowd sprinkled with screams of “I love you Ellie!” They don’t waste a second of stage time, storming instantly into Heavenward as the centre of the crowd begins to form a mosh-pit that is unrelenting through the screams of Yuk Foo’s “I don’t give a shit” and chants of “eyes wide, eyes wide” from You’re a Germ.

The energy Wolf Alice bring is palpable and builds throughout the bridge of Your Love’s Whore before unloading into the chorus causing the crowd to surge. The strength of second album Visions of a Life is in it’s dynamic contrast between moody grunge and eloquent melodies and both St. Purple and Green and Don’t Delete The Kisses. Vocalist Ellie Roswell, with her slicked back hair and slip dress that is basically a trademark at this point makes eyes with the audience while her soft crooning builds. They have the everyone’s full attention.

Formidable Cool brings the atmosphere right back up as bassist Theo Ellis jumps atop his amp and stares maniacally into the crowd before Silk levels everything out again. The setlist is an absolute rollercoaster in the best possible way and nobody is screaming to get off. Guitarist Joff Oddie asks “Is everyone still with us?” but it’s a ridiculous question, everyone has been enthralled from start to finish.

What’s impressive is that all the little features of the album, the small shrieks, screams and breathy exhales are audible throughout and songs from the debut sound better than ever before. The strength of Wolf Alice’s live show shines through the pacing. They’re puppet masters with instruments instead of strings and we’re lead through the ebbs and flows of their music, building slowly towards every explosive moment.

A lot has been said about the death of rock music but Wolf Alice’s airtight, polished and precise live act proves this to be a lie. Rock isn’t dead, it’s ready for the masses.

Photo by Charlotte Christine.