Live Review: Wolf Alice – Brighton
Wolf Alice
Brighton Dome, November 2017
Words & Photos: Chloe Hashemi
There is always something particularly special about seeing a band just after a major album release. Seeing Wolf Alice at the Brighton Dome just a couple of months after the release of their stunning second album ‘Visions of a Life’ was no exception. The fully sold out venue was heaving with hard core fans on the night of the 19th November, many sporting Wolf Alice hoodies, tees and pins.
Early on in the evening, the crowd was treated to two stellar support acts; label mates Superfood, followed by US band Sunflower Bean. Superfood are actually genuine favourites of mine, so I really loved hearing them play tracks from their latest album, including the super-slick Double Dutch. On a personal note, I would say the night started on a strong note, and did not disappoint from then onwards.
With each song from the support bands, you could feel the anticipation in the room building. By the time Wolf Alice graced the stage at 9:30pm, the mosh pits had assembled, and the iPhones were in prime position for the perfect gig Instagram. There was no doubt about it, the quartet were about to play to a very welcome audience.
The crowds exploded with excitement when the single spotlight went up on fierce front woman Ellie Rowsell as she took her position for the opening song of the night, ‘Heavenward’, the lead track from their latest album. With such an anthemic song to start off the set, it felt reminiscent of the opening credits to a killer coming-of-age 80s movie. Ellie’s haunting vocals echoing throughout the set, through the stunning Brighton Dome, and even though the album just came out, the 1,300 fans sang every word back at her.
Both Ellie and Theo expressed how much they love Brighton in between songs, which got the crowd going even more, admitting to all the great memories they have in the city gigging down here over the years.
The band gifted fans with a full 75-minute set, showcasing the best tracks from their two albums My Love is Cool and Visions of a Life, including my absolute favourite track from their debut album, Bros. Rowsell’s vocals were flawless throughout, she even managed to maintain strong vocals as she threw herself into the crowd to do a casual crowd surf.
The encore saw the band happily re-enter the stage, to treat the crowd to two more gems, Blush and Giant Peach.
