Live Review: Wolf Alice, WAAX

They're already onstage as we enter Corner Hotel and WAAX lead singer Marie DeVita performs with absolute conviction, ogling the front section with wide, crazy eyes, daring us to not pay full attention. She sometimes moves like a zombie on a stair master. The match-fit Brisbane hard rockers close with triple j favourite Labrador ("You were right, you were right, you were right all along"), which is delivered with full vitriol. 

After Ultravox’s Vienna reaches its spectacular climax over the venue sound system, the house lights dim. The red curtains that conceal the action on stage are drawn back to reveal 
Joel Amey's drum kit under a red wash. It's pushed right up against the stage's back wall to leave maximum caterwauling space for his bandmates. Atmospheric drone sets the scene before Wolf Alice arrive on stage, greeted by our thrilled cheers. And of course lead singer/guitarist Ellie Rowsell effortlessly pulls off a faded double-denim outfit with (usually unflattering) boyfriend jeans. Any faces she pulls are to create specific vocal sounds, never just for show. You're A Germ is delivered in a measured fashion. Wolf Alice's set steadily escalates in energy throughout; deliberately so. Rowsell's soaring extended high notes perfectly offset the spoken word verses of Don't Delete The Kisses - hypnotic stuff. 


Is it just us or does this London quartet drip with extra, recent Mercury Prize-winning swag tonight? Bassist Theo Ellis pokes his tongue out and contorts his face like a human emoji, rocking that swinging, side-step action in those ankle-freeze-length jeans, white singlet and Dr Martens boots. During Formidable Cool, Rowsell prowls forward to climb on top of the photography barrier, holding a tall front-row punter's hand and using it as a walking stick to steady herself. There are so many nuances to her vocal delivery and endless guitar textures underscored by Amey's galloping, ever-changing drum patterns. The cymbal-heavy Bros garners a huge crowd reaction as we all, "Doo-doo-doo," enthusiastically. Ellis: "Excuse me, mister lighting man - or woman - are you able to make it look really atmospheric and sexy?" The onstage wash transforms and the band launch into Silk, which is greeted by another impressive crowd singalong. After noticing someone FaceTiming in the crowd, Ellis inquires, "Why are they not here?” 

“They’re in England,” we learn via shouted-out response and so Ellis plugs Wolf Alice's second Brixton Academy show, which hasn't sold out yet, suggesting that whoever's on the other end of the phone purchase their tickets sharpish. Rowsell's lingering yowls earn mass cheers and then Ellis is off for a brief crowd-surf. There isn’t a single way that we can think of for guitarist Joff Oddie to position his guitar in order to wrench varied wails from his instrument.


The thrashing Visions Of A Life stops and starts on a dime. We’re spellbound by the band's triple-axe interplay. Ellis actually looks like he’s copping an electric shock up through the soles of his boots at one point, but certainly seems delighted about it. All members of Wolf Alice scan the audience, genuinely stoked to note mouths forming the appropriate unison shapes that prove lyrics have been memorised. Then they leave the stage. 


A chant for, "One more song!" rises up. Wolf Alice return to the stage for Blush. "Are you happy now?" SHIT, yeah! Are they having a laugh? We actually cop a two-song encore and after dealing some more Black Sabbath-thick riffs, Wolf Alice beam widely and wave their arms around wildly as a deafening crowd roar signals victory.