Music > Live Reviews

Slaves @ UEA

19/11/15

In the last 18 months, I’ve seen Slaves in the sun at Latitude. I’ve seen Slaves in a sweaty Owl Sanctuary, at their very first sold out show. I’ve seen Slaves in a packed out tent at the Big Weekend. I’ve interviewed them twice for Outline. And tonight sees me heading to UEA to see Slaves in a massive sold out hall. Not bad, fellas!

We’re treated to some absolutely superb support tonight. First up are tight-as-fuck indie kids Spring King. Having featured as Outline’s cover stars a couple months back ahead of their show at Norwich Sound & Vision at NAC, they’re already well on our radar, and their show tonight will definitely win them some new fans. Their clipped, bouncy, catchy, upbeat tunes swirl round the room, and the audience get swept up in their enthusiasm. Gotta love a singing drummer too, right? Highlights include City and their brand new rad single Who Are You?

It’s my first time seeing Wonk Unit tonight, who come over as a kind of Sleaford Mods meet Goldie Lookin’ Chain. Looking like they just stepped out of some grim estate, which perhaps they have, they’re funny as hell and full of personality. But what’s great about this band are not only are they hilarious, they’re also clever and make incredible punk music. We all immediately fall in love with tracks like Nan, King’s Road Sporting Heroes, Elbows, Horses (allegedly horses were “invented by Lady Diana up in heaven”) and She Cut Her Finger.

 Lead singer Alex Wonk is hugely entertaining, and incredibly confident, the kind of guy you wish was your real life buddy. With tonnes of energy and fun going on in the crowd, I see several people singing along to the songs which are often not longer than a minute long. It’s sharp, it’s sweary, it’s fond…it’s very British. They’re clearly spent many years playing in small venues but having a fucking wonderful time doing so…I feel their moment may just be coming along. Nice one, Wonkers. You have a new friend in me.

Slaves come onstage to The Venga Boys. Totally fitting. Starting off with one of their best songs, White Knuckle Ride, everyone goes cray and a big, friendly, full-of-love pit starts, which doesn’t really let up throughout the set. Pushed back and forth, and sometimes almost knocked over entirely by the force and weight of others’ bodies for an hour or so feels so good…we’re all as one, united in our love for Laurie and Isaac, physically and emotionally. Everyone knows all the words to most of the songs, they sound really loud and really clear, and at the end of the day we know that although their music would be considered pretty aggressive by most, they’re just really sweet guys who love what they’re doing. The camaraderie between them is genuine and their love and appreciation for their audience comes through strongly. It’s a joy to see they are the same modest and cheeky chaps they were playing to 150 people when I saw them last year; fame doesn’t seem to have touched them.

Isaac is a livewire on his drums, belting out vocals at the top of his voice, Laurie’s guitar is goes from strength to strength (I’ve described his sound before as early Nirvana-esque). We’re treated to a new song which is great, but not instantly memorable. It’s a total love-fest in the LCR tonight; we go absolutely off our nuts for Sockets, Where’s Your Car, Debbie?, Ninety Nine, Wow!!! 7am, Are You Satisfied?, The Hunter, Kids and their version of Skepta’s Shutdown. Unfortunately some guitar issues raise their head during this last track and there’s a bit of a pause to get it fixed, but fuck it, they go on to finish the last couple verses anyway, cos that’s how they roll.

Just as they’re going into Hey, they both dive headfirst into the audience and crowdsurf about like the youthful princes of punk that they are. Laurie arrives back onstage unscathed. Isaac limps offstage, and it suddenly becomes clear all is not well. He’s only gone and dislocated his shoulder! We’re all a bit confused and worried. Laurie tries his best not to let us down by playing a bit on his acoustic, but it’s pretty clear our night is over; Isaac’s on his way to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. We clear the venue slowly, everyone blown away by what’s been a thrilling and emotional evening. People are looking for their missing shoe. People are drenched in sweat. People are so very very happy.

Hope you heal up soon, Isaac. We need you back ASAP in Norwich cos we bloody love you, and tonight is absolute proof of that. You slayed us, Slaves.