Wolf Alice have been moving forward at an unstoppable rate since their debut single ‘Fluffy’ in February 2013. In the run up to releasing their first full album, ‘My Love is Cool’ on June 22nd, the group had been touring the UK with noticeable excitement. The Edge caught them in Bournemouth at The Old Fire Station in early April.
If you have ever been to the Old Fire Station in Bournemouth, you’ll know its a special venue. Outside looks, well, exactly like a fire station. Inside, however, is an intimate space that allows the audience to feel close to the music. Wolf Alice recently sold out Shepherds Bush Empire and supported Al-J at the O2, so to see them in a venue as personal as the Old Fire Station felt like a privilege. With their existing success, there is no doubt that they will be moving into bigger spaces after the release of ‘My Love is Cool‘.
Bloody Knees opened the night with a ferocious set of gritty guitar riffs, brimming with pop-punk sentiments. The carnage they created on stage embodied the bands obvious love for partying hard and savouring their youth. They threw themselves into every song (and into the crowd) creating an electric stage presence. Although their sound might not be for everyone – the enjoyment they visibly demonstrate on stage for their own music makes them a must-see.
Contrastingly, the band that followed were a fuzzy geek love affair of Weezer and British indie pop. The Magic Gang are New Forest locals, now living in Brighton, who were clearly thrilled to be playing close to home. The up and coming band are still very young, but creating seismic waves across the music scene with their optimism and charm.
Wolf Alice opened with ‘Fluffy‘ reminding the crowd of where the band begun. The song choice was perfect, with a young and enthusiastic crowd responding energetically to the punchy opener. The floor in front of the stage was packed astonishingly quickly as soon as the band entered the stage, as bar lurkers all pushed to the front to soak up everything Wolf Alice had to offer. On stage, Wolf Alice brought the polish of a well-rehearsed set with psychedelic flourishes with a unique sense of life and energy. Their song ‘Bros‘, which has been removed from Spotify for re-release on the new album, was played third to last and embodied the foursome’s love for each other and the audience. The opening lines caused the floorboards to shake and sent the room into a frenzy.
Their surprise and joy at the ecstatic reception from the crowd tonight proved this bands gratitude towards their fans. However, they are well aware that they are on their way to inspiring a generation young indie lovers. They closed with a charged encore that left the crowd bewildered in atmospheric mist, and begging for more.
