Wolf Alice @ UEA
Fucking incredible.
For me, seeing Wolf Alice live is something that I will never get bored of and completely adore. Having seen them seven times prior to tonight, one of these being yesterday at the momentous Manchester Academy, it was going to be tough for it to be a gig that would make a mark in my catalogue of Wolf Alice experiences.
The excitement was real. Seeing my favourite band, in my home city, with a bunch of my favourite people was going to possibly be the best night ever.
As we enter the LCR, the crowd are buzzing and covered head to toe in glitter, and first support Bloody Knees take to the stage. Fun, gritty and pretty raw, Bloody Knees create an atmosphere to get the whole crowd going, a small mosh pit opening up from the word go. Their heavy bass and moany (in a good way) vocals are the perfect start to the evening, and they seem like a bunch of lovely lads that can create music worthy of supporting Wolf Alice.
The same can't be said for second support Crows. Their vocals are weak and I really don't like the standoffish persona of the lead singer. It seems like they're attempting to be as 'off the rails ' as The Fat White Family, but they don't really pull it off. The energy kind of dies in the crowd and I don't really feel excited, just irritated that Wolf Alice aren't currently on stage. Maybe it's exhaustion and me being too eager to see my favourites, but Crows really don't do it for me.
And then the darkness is broken by the glittery lights illuminating the crowd, and we are submerged into and wave of sparkly wonderful music. Hit single You're a Germ absolute destroys the crowd, Ellie Rowsell's screams echoing through the venue. Energy wise, it's as fun and lively as most of the times I've seen them, and the band still retain a unity that makes them loveable and pretty amazing to watch. Highlight of the evening is most definitely when sons from their old EP's are played, the gritty Storms contrasting the wonderfully serene Blush that makes the hairs on everyone's arms stand up. The crowd respond to their volatile set, constantly thrashing about and screaming lyrics back and forth across the opening mosh pits. Impressively, the circle pit for the last and encore song Giant Peach is one of the most fierce and vigorous things I've ever experienced. With some friends throwing up straight afterwards due to the sheer intensity of the pit, everyone knows that Wolf Alice have absolutely smashed it.
Honestly, I beg you to go see this band live. They are fucking incredible.
9/10
