The Verse’s Dominic Courtney reviews Wolf Alice’s show at Brighton Dome on 2oth November 2017.
With this summer marking the return of Wolf Alice, many had been wondering what the band were going to do this time. Visions of a Life once again blew away fans with their ethereal, dreamy tunes, cut sharply by the aggressive single Yuk Foo.
Commencing their tour in America, everyone was eager to see the band back on home turf, with each concert accompanied by in-store appearances One was held in Brighton’s very own vinyl store, Resident.
Brighton Dome played host on the 20th November to Wolf Alice. Supporting acts were Superfood and Sunflower Beam. More notable however, were Superfood. The bouncy indie group quickly got the crowd going, utilising their melodies to really create a fun atmosphere.
The crowd, already excited about their headliners, made the support so much better. Superfood and Sunflower Beam really got into the swing of things, introducing new and established music to fans and newcomers. With this strong start, it seemed as though the night could only get better.
While for many bands a hiatus means a complete rethink of aesthetics and style, this is not so for Wolf Alice. Soon the time came for Wolf Alice to grace the stage, with the crowd anticipating what would happen. Would this be a replay of their previous album or a testing ground for the new? While reminiscent of previous gigs, this didn’t matter. Fans had been waiting for so long, deprived of Ellie Rowsell’s otherworldly vocals, that their presence on stage was a welcome comfort.
What came was an incredible experience. A selection of their best, allowing fans old and new to truly experience Wolf Alice. The glittering lights of the Dome ensured Wolf Alice moved with ease between their two albums and sounds, despite the slight departure in sound. The band’s growth, musically, was clear to see. Made evident by Queens of the Stone Age (Rock Veterans) choosing them as support for their US tour. Wolf Alice are clearly ready for even larger gigs. Songs such as Bros and You’re a Germ brought me back to my late teens, when I first heard the band and fell in love with them.
New songs like Yuk Foo and Don’t Delete the Kisses subtly emphasised just how good Wolf Alice’s previous songs were. But also how the band have evolved in the new album. The Camden regulars brought with them a little slice of colour, pulsing light and magnificent sound to the Brighton Dome. The gig was simply the audience being transported into Alice’s own personal dream. Down the rabbit hole, as it were.
While their previous deluxe album includes around 25 tracks, it was, in fact, anything but an effort. With such an astounding return to music, Wolf Alice have set a blazing standard going into the New Year. Even with only two albums’ worth of songs, they can still bring diversity to their act, and the crowd loved them for it. Playing out to the ethereal epic Blush, Wolf Alice have come back from hiatus and proved their integrity.
