My
last (currently!) scheduled out-of-town gig of the year came in the shape of
by-now gig “dance card” regulars Wolf Alice, young Ellie Rowsell and her spiky
boy crew continuing their inexorable upwards trajectory with a very fine, if
hardly groundbreakingly different, sophomore album in this year's "Visions
Of A Life", and subsequent sell-out dates on both sides of the Atlantic.
Their Bristol date came too close to “Shiiine On”, but I was happy to snap up a
ticket for their later Southampton Guildhall gig, and return to the scene of
Logan's onstage Bowling For Soup shenanigans!
Had
a blustery drive down on this dark Autumn evening, and parked up dead on 7.30
around the corner from the venue. First band Superfood were already on, playing
a bland rehash of 90's Britpop and 80's dull wine bar jazz funk. They'd lost me
after their first album, which fulfilled approximately 0% of the initial
promise displayed on their first Wolf Alice support slot back in 2014, and this
insipid fayre did even less to tempt me back! Much better, however, were the
main support, on at 8.25; "we're Sunflower Bean from New York City - let's
have some fun!" announced petite blonde vocalist Julia Cumming, as opener
"Burning To The Ground" impressed with a stompy new wave powerpop
vibe recalling The Knack, and a rockier second number "Right Now"
featured some racy guitar licks from curly bouffanted axeman Nick Kivlen, who at
first glance appeared to be wearing lilac silk pyjamas! I enjoyed their breezy
new material, which often tested Cumming's impressive vocal range, particularly
the laconic NYC cool and melody of new single "I Was A Fool". Set
closer "What Did You Do Today" featured an extended Doors "LA
Woman"-like guitar workout, and overall this was a neat little set from a
band whom I'd unfairly overlooked up to now. Pitching up midway between the CBGB’s
garage growl cool of Ex Hex and the candy-stripe pop of Alvvays, it's time for
a re-appraisal of Sunflower Bean, methinks...!
Took
a wander around this packed venue, through the broad church that is the Wolf
Alice crowd - old boys like myself, student types and loads of excited girls,
one group brandishing a blow-up penis to hurl around in the mosh! The band
themselves joined us at 9.30 with the minimum of fuss, tumbling into the dry
ice, strobes and swirling Lush-isms of opener "Heavenward". Then it
all got a bit punk rock, as the ferocious, venom-spitting double of the
slightly trite "Yuk Foo" and more substantial "You're A
Germ" initiated an enthusiastic
young moshpit, the crowd already howling delightedly along to Rowsell's scalded
banshee screams. We're off and running...
This
was a consummate performance from a band quickly maturing before my very eyes.
As "professional" as their current status and popularity requires,
yet still with vim and venom aplenty; they're wearing the big boy/girl pants
now, no messin’, and filling them out splendidly! Great to see some light and
shade in the set too, with a pretty, pastoral "St. Purple And Green"
segueing into the gorgeously ethereal hookline of "Don't Delete The
Kisses"; and a later "Planet Hunter" possibly my set highlight,
an oasis of calm amidst the frantic powerpop of the likes of "Bros"
and "Lisbon", understated, haunting and recalling The Heart Throbs.
"The
first place we played here [in Southampton] was The Joiners, now we're playing
here which is fucking amazing!" remarked incredulous guitarist Theo Ellis
before the tubthumping "Space And Time", a mid-song pregnant pause
building feverish anticipation as he and bassist Joff Oddie brandished their
instruments aloft. "Visions Of A Life" was an undulating, tempo
changing creepy epic, the core section reminding these old ears of
"Porcupine"-era Bunnymen, then the extended careering rollercoaster
ride of "Fluffy" finished an exciting
and entirely fat-free 1 hour 5 set, extended by the subsequent encore of
gossamer oldie "Blush" and a heavy-riffing, floor-shaking "Giant
Peach" (the encore, curiously, being preceded by chants of "Oh Jeremy
Corbyn" from the mosh massive!).
Great
stuff again, topped by a list provided by the friendly soundman. A swift drive
back got me home on the stroke of midnight, satisfied upon seeing Wolf Alice
again bare their teeth impressively, and take another step towards their
inevitable world domination. Well done people!
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