REVIEW: WOLF ALICE @ BIG NIGHT LIVE 9/30
Review by Josephine Best (Photo Credit: Andy DeLuca)
I arrived two hours before doors opened at Big Night Live, only to be hit with the devastating sight of 30 people ahead of me in line. Looking at the queue of people, you had no idea what they were gathered for. There were young women cloaked in combat boots and sheer tops alongside the casually dressed senior crowd, plus an Iggy Pop lookalike who slithered through the line.
When we got inside, the demographic shifted again. Stealing a spot in the front row, two girls around five and nine years old wearing wolf ears stood alongside their father. I, along with many others, was desperate to get the coveted spot in the front. Those behind me scrambled in, devastated to find that their prized possession was poached by a preteen.
Alas, everyone shuffled in, and slowly, the space between characters diminished. When the lights mellowed, this space shrunk further as the crowd pressed forward for a better look as Wolf Alice took to the stage. From the beginning, it was clear that the energy on the platform did not come from frontwoman Ellie Rowsell but rather from bassist Theo Ellis and guitarist Joff Oddie. Quickly settling into their instruments, they called the crowd for more steam. Rowsell took to the mic to address the congregation swiftly before backing away and letting Ellis take over on bass with the inciting intro of ‘Smile.’
Behind him, “WOLF ALICE” decorated the screen at the back of the stage. When Ellis reached the climax, Rowsell simultaneously leaped out of her shell. The blue words fell away, and flashing lights severed the stage as the rest of the band joined in the song.
Once again, personal space shrunk as the song tainted the crowd. People were slamming their heads against the air, bawling, “I AM WHAT I AM AND I’M GOOD AT IT / AND YOU DON’T LIKE ME WELL THAT ISN’T F—ING RELEVANT.” Rowsell’s lengthy high notes, which marked the song’s outro, subdued the crowd readying them for the next track.
“You’re a Germ” creeps in much slower than the song it succeeds, which gives the congregation time to reassemble. Oddie and Ellis lurk closer to the stage edge as the capstone of the track hangs over the venue. When Rowsell comes in with the count, Oddie’s guitar hangs further and further from his waist. Before hanging over his head entirely when Rowsell screams, “YOU AIN’T GOING TO HEAVEN!” Ellis bounces around on stage, gaining four feet of air with each bound, and the crowd imitates, causing the floor beneath to convulse.
The building’s structure is granted a break from the pulsating congregation when Rowsell’s harmonic vocals mark the beginning of ‘Delicious Things.’ Faces in the mob glow red from the images playing on the screen. A loop of palm trees passing overhead is dyed red and plays in a loop as a tribute to the track’s lyric, “Would you believe I’m in Los Angeles?” The video looping alongside the lullaby of Rowsell’s vocals conditions the crowd into a loosened state.
Throughout the night, the screen acted as an extra band member. Colors, videos, and lights orchestrated the design of the stage and the emotions of the mob. When it came time for ‘Bros,’ a short film played. Videos from the band’s ten years together flashed on the screen. From early performances to home videos, while a grinning Rowsell sang, “Oh, there’s no one, there’s no one quite like you.” The combination of sensory stimulation sobered the crowd bringing many to tears at the heartfelt tribute.
Continuing a theme of solemnness, Rowsell stepped onto the elevated platform turning sideways. Red poured on her face before a halo of light circled her head. An acoustic version of “Safe From Heartbreak” came into play with support from Oddie on guitar. The other untasked band members looked lovingly up towards Rowsell as she held her gaze sharply against the wall.
The calm wasn’t meant to last. It was time for ‘Play The Greatest Hits.’ Neon green letters slashed the screen. “IT’S NOT LOUD ENOUGH!” began strobing, and Rowsell called out, “This song is about being a very, very wicked girl!” She abandoned her soft tone for a gravely scream, “IF THE FAST LIFE IS FAST / WHY DOES IT CREEP?” Her stage presence began to evolve, feeling more comfortable against the screeches than the melodic hums. She waltzed back and forth across the stage. Her hair grazed the ground as she whipped her head up and down. And her fist climbed the air to be brought back down in a victorious stance. The track began to wind down, and Wolf Alice presented an exclusive live version of the song. Unlike the recorded ballad, which eerily plays Rowsell’s harmonizing howls, she took to the elevated platform and orchestrated herself bellowing climbing operatic notes with the raise of her arm. The green words flashed behind her as her fist reached the top; slamming her arms and head down, she finalized the song.
The set reached the fake peak of the evening, “ending” the concert with ‘Giant Peach.’ The crowd was having none of it. After Wolf Alice exited, the stage chants rose, howling, “ENCORE!” The mob’s appetite was not yet satisfied. Wolf Alice knows precisely how their fans want to end the night, and that’s with Don’t Delete The Kisses. A bright pink rose stood alone against a blue backdrop, the colors kissing, creating a purple hue on the congregation’s face. Oddie and Ellis orchestrate the crowd demonstrating the high notes with their hands. And the most unified sound of the evening emanates from the mass. “WHAT IF IT’S NOT MEANT FOR ME? LOVE!”
The once strange demographic slipped into an allied herd of people anxious for love and thirsting for Wolf Alice. The senior crowd, the young women in combat boots, and the Iggy Pop look alike blended together. Voices rose and fell harmonizing to a song that each character found resemblance in. Wolf Alice proved they are for all ages and for all people, as all good music should.
SETLIST
Smile
You’re a Germ
Formidable Cool
Delicious Things
Lipstick on the Glass
Planet Hunter
Bros
Safe From Heartbreak
How Can I Make It Ok?
Play the Greatest Hits
Silk
Feeling Myself
Moaning Lisa Smile
Visions of a Life
No Hard Feelings
Giant Peach
Encore
Last Man on The Earth
Don’t Delete The Kisses