Circa Waves
Liverpool scamps Circa Waves’ second LP Different Creatures landed in March, with the ensuing tour across the UK taking the quartet to some of their biggest venues yet. The penultimate stop, at the UEA LCR is the only date to have not sold out, and by a considerable margin it seems. But with an impeccable support bill accompanying their own incendiary performance, it was a night overflowing with indie bangers.
Sound & Vision Festival alumni InHeaven are the perfect opening act, with their psychedelic, glam-rock numbers. Despite their set being cut back to 20 minutes, they’re on fine form, frontman James and bassist Chloe stylishly jamming through the grungey Treats and anthem of rebellion Regeneration.
Next it’s time for Brighton favourites The Magic Gang to make their long overdue Norwich debut. Having made a name for themselves touring with the likes of Wolf Alice and Swim Deep, the indie teen-heavy go wild for their squeaky clean pop songs, in a scene of chaos that conjures tones of Beatlemania. How Can I Compete, from their latest EP, is a funky sing-along party tune, and the Supergrass reminiscent Jasmine brings a dash of sunshine to the gloomy auditorium.
Circa Waves follow in the footsteps of The Kooks and The Wombats in their ability to churn out irresistibly catchy pop songs by the bucketload. Tonight’s set is proof enough of this; besides acting as a showcase of the new LP, the fan favourites from their aptly titled 2015 debut Young Chasers transform the LCR into an endorphin filled wonderland.
The energy skyrockets from the off, and frontman Kieran Shudall is by no means ready to see it drop. “Open that pit!” he commands routinely, though he really doesn’t need to, as the floor shape shifts multiple times per song. Young Chasers and Fossils go off with a bang, and darker, newer material like the beast that is Different Creatures fill the auditorium with angsty guitar madness. The already timeless T-Shirt Weather brings a sugary close to this triumphant gig from a band well on their way to greatness.
