Four-time Mercury Prize–nominated band Wolf Alice, the first act ever to be nominated for all of their first four albums.
That’s just how good they are. They graced Leeds’ First Direct Arena with a dazzling show full of sparkle.
To say Wolf Alice are underrated might seem like an oxymoron after reading about their decorated history; however, this is a band whose every performance outdoes the last. Every record punches harder, and every evolution they get cooler and cooler. They deserve global domination after the show they put on in Leeds.
Their latest release, and the reason for touring The Clearing welcomed a whole new generation of adoring fans. Having seen them on almost every UK tour they’ve done, it was wonderful to witness the euphoria of friendship groups hearing Wolf Alice’s mammoth sound live for perhaps the first time. In front of me at one point were (Just) Two Girls, hand in hand, very emotionally singing every lyric to each other while the rest of their friends jumped and danced around them.
That is, quite simply, the embodiment of Wolf Alice’s music. It connects people through themes others often shy away from.
Take Just Two Girls as an example: it tells the story of jealousy when the goal is easily achievable, of girlhood, of the morning after the night before. The vulnerable lyrics about looking at someone and thinking “I want what they have” paired with a theatrical indie-pop ensemble create a larger-than-life feeling while describing the inescapably mundane. In a social media world, it’s undoubtedly relatable.
Among the many things Wolf Alice get right when performing, the order of the setlist is a big one. A simple thing, but when done well it can skyrocket your experience.
Introducing the evening with new album tracks (while squeezing in fan favourite Formidable Cool), the energy felt as though it was constantly building. They played The Sofa as the eighth song in an impressive 22-track run. If you’re not familiar with the piano ballad, Ellie Rowsell describes it as “accepting unrealized dreams, getting older, and not trying so hard to figure everything out.” The sentiment this song carries could only have been executed after a decade of dedication to life as a touring band. They’ve built a legacy that allows them to deliver these messages in a truly authentic way.
The Sofa is The Clearing’s final track, the grand finish, yet it appeared within the first half hour of the show. I worried it might have been given to the audience too soon. But it worked so well. The crowd sang it with their whole chest, which meant that when a run of iconic Wolf Alice songs (Bros and You’re a Germ) followed, everyone went feral. Emotions dialled up to ten.
Every element of this show was beautifully considered. Leeds’ First Direct Arena delivered, facilitating the show to its full potential. I was so impressed with the set: the enormous tinsel star formation felt like it towered over the audience filling the entire roof of the stage.
The camera work, lighting, and effects put me in a trance throughout the night. Our friends we saw the show with captured it perfectly when they said, “The backdrop of the stage never changed, but every song felt like it did because of how they styled it.”
They used their blocking on stage to emphasise either intensity or intimacy. Safe From Heartbreak saw the full band standing together with two guitars and white lights, a stark contrast to Yuk Foo, which exploded with flashing red and blue lights, Ellie on a megaphone, and Theo and the band running across the stage while frantically playing. It was incredible. They put on a show.
They finished the night with Don’t Delete the Kisses. A song that, at the time of its release, felt like it was written for a twenty-something Charlotte living in Seven Sisters (no, I’m not kidding), who used to take the Hammersmith & City line to her shop job in Ladbroke Grove (fellow mega-fans will spot the references).
Many nights were spent tipsy on the Camden night bus, falling through the front door with friends and wondering if life would always be this chaotic. Repelled by love or anything serious on the surface, Don’t Delete the Kisses is the anthem of a generation, a nostalgic hug from the past and sweet nod to just how far the band has come.
Photography by Maddie Armstrong.
