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Review: Circa Waves at Thekla
Is indie dead? It’s debatable, but this gig was a reminder that it shouldn’t be. Baby-faced rockers Circa Waves and their exciting support brought some flawlessly energetic rock to the table (boat). The scuzzy genius of Bloody Knees combined with eccentric New Yorkers Public Access Tv and topped off with Circa Waves made the night feel like a true privilege for the new-talent-seekers out there in Bristol.
Hardcore fans lined the front row and knew every word to most of the songs, as the rest of the room bounced joyfully through the care-free brilliance of the set. Latest single ‘So Long’ resulted in a huge crowd sing-a-long and a Pete and Carl moment at the end of the song got everyone going crazy. Good For Me is only a b-side but it’s upbeat, scrappy and uncomplicated, and kept everyone dancing mid-set.
Circa Waves said they will only release a song if they’re totally over-the-moon with it, and so it follows that their short back-catalogue is thrilling to say the least. New album underway, it seems this isn’t going to change. The songs played from the forthcoming debut had all the lovable qualities of their previous releases and more.
is needed now More than ever
Fan-favourite Get Away was up last and the band played on it, teasing the crowd with a long intro. It’s even more phenomenal live than it is on record, the excellent live sound accentuating the talented vocals of Liverpudlian frontman Keiran Shuddall. Undoubtedly the highlight, though, was single Stuck In My Teeth, and not only because the guitarist sung in people’s faces and promptly got a comical slap round the chops. It’s a Strokes-meets-Vampire-Weekend slice of indie euphoria that left members of the crowd grinning as they chanted ‘I’m a little too young with not enough time’. The room then turned into a big moshpit. Indie wasn’t dead here.
By Elle England
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