Music / Reviews
Review: Wolf Alice, O2 Academy
With sold out tours across North America and Europe, a string of festival slots and the release of their debut album, 2015 has been quite the year for Wolf Alice. The London quartet kick off their autumn tour at the Bristol O2 Academy.
First support comes from Americans Made Violent. What has made them violent isn’t mentioned, but judging from their youthful looks, after school detention and Grand Theft Auto seems likely. “We’re the world famous Made Violent” singer/bassist Joe White proclaims from behind his massive mop of hair. Maybe not, but their brash and catchy rock definitely shows promise.
Up next are the underdogs of the new wave of British rock, Drenge. The Loveless brothers make a fearsome racket and are joined by a bassist to further beef up their sound, which is as grungy as their name. They’re no frills, all thrills and brutally brilliant, with heavy hits Running Wild and We Can Do What We Want channelling the disaffected angst that comes from growing up in, erm, Yorkshire.
Wolf Alice take to the stage decked in glitter, the North London four-piece cutting slim figures against the sparkling artwork for their album My Love Is Cool blown up behind them. Last time they were in Bristol was for a quiet and measured acoustic set at Rise, before going on to play a feral secret set at Glastonbury later that same day and they bring the same energy to their show tonight.
The first date on their UK tour, singer Ellie Rowsell almost shyly says tonight will be the first time they play many songs from their album, but you wouldn’t have guessed it: new tracks The Wonderwhy and Your Loves Whore are as polished and well received as EP favourites Moaning Lisa Smile and Fluffy.
Wolf Alice sound both new and nostalgic, straddling the area between indie-rock and grunge, with guitarist Joff Oddie hunched over keys and pedals adding tinkly effects to the old-school sound of his bandmates. They are aptly named: ferociously innocent, Rowsell sings sweetly on Blush before shrieking into the downright dirty Giant Peach for a crescendo encore.
It’s an impressive start to a tour that promises to be another success for the glitter grungers. Their love is cool and so are they.
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
