Wolf Alice, O2 ABC, Glasgow
★★★★
When Wolf Alice singer Ellie Rowsell spoke to this newspaper earlier in the year, she expressed a desire for younger bands to get a chance headlining festivals. A mere one album into their career, the odds on Wolf Alice themselves achieving that feat in the near future seem to be shortening at some pace. This was both raucous and assured, a well-paced set that sated desires for moshing and sing-a-longs continuously.
There is, admittedly, some obvious influences about the foursome, who kept the chat to a minimum during an hour onstage. Nirvana, the Pixies and the Breeders can all be heard within their songs, but presented with such a sheen that it’s like stumbling upon a compilation of undiscovered 90s material. Rowsell, glitter adorning her face, is an impressive vocalist, possessing both an ethereal tone and a hefty lung capacity when it’s time to shriek.
Those moments came often, but vitally it wasn’t just about noise. There was some more subtle moments too, from slow burn synths on Soapy Water and the atmosphere soaked Turn To Dust, to the killer melodies running underneath their most indie-friendly moments, like Bros. It created a set with enough sharp turns to never become boring.
Still, the loudest moments struck the heaviest blows. Many of their contemporaries stumble when trying to strike the balance between distorted rock and smart pop, but Wolf Alice know exactly what they’re going, from the way Lisbon exploded thrillingly with distortion to the outpouring of anger flowing through You’re A Germ and the gigantic riff that powered a set-closing Giant Peach. It felt like the venue could barely contain them, and bigger rooms await.
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