Imagine what an in-store gig is? An intimate portrayal of a band stripping it back to the fans who truly care – who go out and whack their money on the counter. Now bring Wolf Alice into the equation.
Tonight at XOYO, there’s an in-store showcase that’s not in a store at all; relocated to an actual, proper venue because – let’s be honest – an East London shop is going to struggle with demand. It makes sense in the world of Wolf Alice, a band that never sits in one place, always looking beyond the walls other people try to erect around them. It’s a snapshot in time of a band kicking into another gear, burning with a fever that comes with an album that not only takes that step up, but skips two or three in a single stride. Tonight feels vital, on another level – but indisputably real.
Wolf Alice trade in gritty realities, blended with a daydream-like world. From the second they step out, there’s a frothing, searing hunger. Opener ‘Heavenward’ is the perfect marker for where new LP ‘Visions Of A Life’ finds them; gazing at the stars but unafraid in throwing a spotlight on a world that can feel so backwards. ‘Yuk Foo’ spits with a venom that incites uncontrollable fever, ‘Formidable Cool’ struts with measured abandon, while the album’s title track stands on its own – defiantly gliding through a packed room that eats up every note. ‘Bros’, ‘You’re A Germ’ and closer ‘Giant Peach’ already feel like classics, proving a statement that after tonight is powerfully clear – Wolf Alice are a special, special band. ‘Visions Of A Life’ simply gives confirmation that they belong in an elite club that should be held aloft for the rest of the world to see.
While, on paper, this is an in-store show – usually restrained for stripped back songs and golf-clapping – Wolf Alice have earned the right to rip apart the rule book and form their own reality. Tonight, while a throwback to the shows where they made their name, is always looking forwards. They’re the band that soundtracks the day-to-day, the dreams we have of at night and all the worlds in-between. They’re special, but for Wolf Alice it’s just another step to something more.
Photos: Sarah Louise Bennett / Dork