IMAGES AND WORDS BY DESH KAPUR
“Giant Peach” and “Last Man On Earth” bring the house down, but to be fair, they were dismantling the house since the beginning of this set”
I knew tonight was going to be big. Wolf Alice are not far from filling stadiums and the queue was already stretching down the street as I arrived at The Mountford Hall, Liverpool Student Guild… yep, this was going to be biblical.
Wolf Alice was formed in 2010 and after a couple of ins and outs, the line-up we know so well was established; Ellie Rowsell, Joel Amey, Joff Oddie and Theo Ellis.
In December 2013, they were chosen as the most-blogged-about artists in the UK by BBC Radio 6 Music.
In 2014, they signed to Dirty Hit.
On 22 June 2015, they released their debut album “My Love Is Cool” debuting at number 2 in the UK Albums Chart.
In 2017 their second studio album, “Visions of a Life” was released, which went on to win the 2018 Mercury Prize.
On 4th June 2021, Wolf Alice’s released their third album, “Blue Weekend”, which became their first UK number 1 and deservedly so. And that is what we were here to celebrate tonight.
As the house lights dimmed, the band walked on stage to raptures of applause, shouts and whistles. They looked relaxed and smiled at each other and there is even a laugh from Ellie, as if they couldn’t quite believe the reception and excitement pouring from the crowd.
Then they launched into “Smile”. In-your-face, edgy, confrontational, and full of self-belief – “I am what I am and I’m good at it”…”You don’t like me? Well, that isn’t fucking relevant.” Brilliant stuff and a brilliant way to kick things off.
“You’re a Germ” from their debut album “Your Love Is Cool” follows; all screaming guitars and pounding drums, with Ellie’s cool, quietly-whispered vocals sitting beautifully and delicately on top. Following on, “Formidable Cool” from the band’s second Album “Vision Of Live” with Ellie spitting a snarling the lines “Believe in the chorus, believe in love”, and then on to “Delicious Things” from “Blue Weekend”. By now the whole venue is rocking, and I’m rocking with it.
Wolf Alice have this amazing ability to go from screeching indie rock to melody-driven sadness with effortless ease. It’s spellbinding. Tracks like “How Can I Make It OK” with it’s beautiful, heart-wrenching verses and impossibly high notes and chorus, the epic “Giant Peach” and “Last Man On Earth” bring the house down, but to be fair, they were dismantling the house since the beginning of this set.
Wolf Alice are big, bold, brave, mature and intelligent; they strut with self-confidence, and it works on every level. They take elements of Hole, The Pixies, Elastica, Verruca Salt, Sonic Youth. Their sound is a fusion of British Indie and American Grunge Rock, and they pull it off perfectly. Lead singer, Ellie Rowsell’s voice is an amazing blend of Justine Frischmann, Courtney Love and Kim Deal with the writing sensibilities of Kurt Cobain.
As the night ends and the obligatory encore is finished, I know I have been treated to something very special.
I also know that I have witnessed the shining new light of British guitar music.
Brilliant night!!!!
SETLIST
1/ SMILE
2/YOU’RE A GERM
3/ FORMIDABLE COOL
4/ DELICIOUS THINGS
5/ LIPSTICK ON THE GLASS
6/ PLANET HUNTER
7/ BROS
8/ SAFE FROM HEARTBREAK
9/ HOW CAN I MAKE IT OK
10/ PLAY THE GREATEST HITS
11/ FEELING MYSELF
12/ SILK
13/ VISIONS OF A LIFE
14/ MOANING LISA SMILE
15/ NO HARD FEELINGS
16/ GIANT PEACH ENCORE
17/ THE LAST MAN ON EARTH
18/ DONT DELETE THE KISSES
FOLLOW WOLF ALICE
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.
