The Wombats ProfileIt’s a bit of a surreal experience to be handed lanyards, drink tokens and ushered onto a boat to be taken to ‘The Island’, an anchored party boat in the middle of Sydney Harbour. The boat was rammed with Channel [V] personalities, industry types, prize winners, photographers and a scattering of actual fans that may have somehow snatched a hot ticket to what felt like a private party.
The crowd was well and truly humming as the three-piece band from Liverpool arrived on stage. The Wombats have received wide-ranging acclaim for their catchy, indie rock and two solid albums packed full of singles. Tonight we would experience almost all of them.
Your Body Is A Weapon kicked it all off as the punters launched themselves into the air in unison making the already rocking boat rock that little bit more. The track stands as the first song released from the upcoming new album, Glitterbug (released April 6), but came out so long ago that we’d forgotten.
The trio continued to bust out a perfect small set of singles, alternating from their first two albums. The compressed group of punters near the front shouted the lyrics to all their tracks with gusto, particularly Techno Fan and Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves).
All vantage points were taken as a drone circled the boat and photographers hung from the boat’s roof. It was one of those gigs you could brag about to your friends. The sky darkened and the party lights illuminated the band as they finished off with their brand new single Emoticon and of course the song that started it all Let’s Dance To Joy Division.
The Wombats are a nice bunch. Clearly excited to be on a boat in the best harbour in the world “surrounded by great whites” and having “ridiculous fun”, it was a good promotion for what is certain to be a headline tour later in the year.
