WORDS AND IMAGES BY BILLY SEAGRAVE
“The Atmosphere That Is As Mystical And Heady Waves Of Artist Licence”
Heading into Manchester’s Albert Hall for the much anticipated return of the ever evolving Warpaint, Billy Seagrave, was eager to finally catch the band live.
The majestic surroundings of Manchester’s Albert Hall was the perfect setting for the heavenly sounds of Warpaint, bringing the crowds into the heart of the city. I was lucky enough to be part of the crowd when the Californian four-piece played an impressive thirteen-song set and three song encore.
There was still clear daylight coming through the picturesque windows of tonight’s fabulous venue as Low Hum take to the stage in support of tonight’s host, Warpaint. The crowds where still on their way in as they launched into their set. Hawaiian-born, Los Angeles-based musician Collin Desha is the man behind the moniker of Low Hum. His music can be described in many ways – at the core, it is indie rock, but it is also kind of psychedelic. This music lives in the doorway where lo-fi meets hi-fi in a manner of kaleidoscopic futurism that coasts on oceanic waves. Seeing Low Hum live is an encompassing experience, the music creates dream-pop-like sensibilities but the fuzzed-out, heavy riffs ground you; on occasion, you can feel the bass in your chest while the haunting vocals build the bridge between the synths and lyrics.
A cinematic romanticism rolls throughout Low Hum’s music, befitting the sort of larger-than-life moments that carry our dreams.
Just as the sea may embody nature’s most extreme violence and calm, Low Hum’s fuzzed out ballads are at once aggressive psych jammers balanced with a range of vulnerability that comes crashing ashore.
As Warpaint take to the stage finally the last remnant of the day is turning to night, the stage is dark the band are mere silhouettes form what little lighting there is available, ‘Stars’, is the opener, and its clear from the off, the loyal fanbase are here to embrace and lose themselves in the heady mix of music Warpaint have in the locker.
Showcasing tracks from their latest album ‘Radiate like this’, its another triumph and furthers the rich tapestry and enigmatic style from such a stylish band. The last time Warpaint played this venue, in October of 2016, for the fans it looked like the band had gone their own ways. All working on personal and different projects Guitarist Theresa Wayman produced a solo album, ‘LoveLaws’, Bassist Jenny Lee Lindberg also produced her own solo album, the superb, quietly atmospheric ‘Heart Tax’. Guitarist and singer Emily Kokal has started a family, while drummer Stella Mozgawa has become one of indie rock’s most sought-after session players.
‘Hips’ and ‘Love is to die’ as well as ‘Krimson’, really do add to the atmosphere that is as mystical and heady waves of artist licence, And often it felt like the audience was lulled into a song with these hazy guitar riffs and delicate vocals, such as in keep it Healthy and Love is to Die, only for it to suddenly turn into something else, being led down an eerie path unsure as to where it’s going to lead.
As all four of the band come to the front of the stage with only Melody on guitar, for the beautiful, ‘Melting’, all eyes are firmly fixed on the stage, and it was a pivotal point of the performance. ‘New song’, and ‘Disco//Very’, close out the set. Quickly returning to the stage and playing a three-song encore, ‘Elephants’, ‘Bees’ and one final track from their latest album, ‘Send nudes’, brings down the curtain on a flawless performance.
After watching tonight’s performance, it is not difficult to understand why Warpaint are one of Indies most acclaimed bands, a blend of psych-rock, post-punk, dream pop, that is uniquely their own. Warpaint
Band:
Emily Kokal – Lead and Backing Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Electronics
Jenny Lee Lindberg – Bass, Backing and Lead Vocals
Theresa Wayman – Lead and Backing Vocals, Guitar, Synthesizer, Drums
Stella Mozgawa – Drums, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
SET LIST
1/ Stars
2/ Champion
3/ Intro
4/ Keep It Healthy
5/ Hips
6/ Hard To Tell You
7/ Love Is to Die
8/ Krimson
9/ Melting
10/ Stevie
11/ Bees
12/ New Song
13/ Disco//Very
Encore:
14/ Elephants
15/ Beetles
16/ Send Nudes
FOLLOW WARPAINT
FOLLOW LOW HUM
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
