The Wombats
Live
Monday 28th of April 2008
It's been an amazing year for gods of the indie-dance floor, The Wombats, and tonight high-tempo favourites help warm everyone up for the kind of night that's in store. 'Karma Chameleon' even creeps its way in there. And yes, people still love it.
As the 3-piece take to the stage, affront a youthfully exuberant audience, with many a member donned in striped face paint, the screaming is immense and a sea of hands raise from the crowd. It's pretty clear this is going to be one energetic night.
The two Liverpudlians and one Norwegian round a single microphone for a barbershop capella of 'Tales of Boys and Girls and Marsupials'. Cringeworthy it may sound but pulled off perfectly none the less; much to the delight of the audience. Who by this point are going pretty much crazy, but the mellow start doesn't last and they soon rip into 'Kill the Director'.
Showcasing tracks from their popular debut album, A Guide To Love, Loss and Desperation, you'd expect nothing less than a disco from these guys.
Coloured in neon strips and The Wombats name in red lights, they've definitely put time into the stage setup and making the show as visually chaotic, as it is to listen to.
Lead singer, Murph, dedicates 'School Uniform' to "anyone who's ever been in school or still in school", which tonight, I'm guessing, is mainly the latter. It's crazy how just a three-piece can fill the room with such incredible energy. With an army of dedicated fans and Murph doubling up on keyboards, they punch on with the night. Friendly chaps, who like things fast and fun, they still make time to stop and chat to the audience.
Despite Murph's deadpan "I'd say this is the darkest song I ever wrote", they can't stay still for long and by the time they've hit the chorus of 'Here Comes the Anxiety' everyone is moving and chirping along. Pounding bass and drums creates a clappy danceable beat to back Murph's strangely deep and charming lyrics. Dropping in plenty of electro-funky beats and indie rhythm keeps the bouncing up, with pockets of dancing spread out all through the Guildhall. Tonight everything's 100mph and, naturally, everyone goes mental for 'Moving to New York' - so much so you can barely hear the vocals for the word for word renditions ringing out from the crowd.
New song 'How to Pack Your Bags and Leave' is played out in usual Wombat fashion - packing a punch and catchy as hell. Murph tells the audience "if you're looking for love" to "pinch someone's bum." Classy lads.
'Little Miss Pipedream' is about as placid as The Wombats can bring themselves to go, it's full of teenage angst and desperation but still with that gritty edge. The sugar coated desperation of a love you can't have.
Then Murph announces "Operation: lets go mental" for 'Lets Dance to Joy Division'. And dance they do. In fact go bloody mental.
Lights aren't all these boys have up there sleeves, so out comes a giant blow up wombat for the encore, suspended above the stage and complete with huge comedy glasses. Fantastic. Bringing out 'Backfire at The Disco', gives the crowd a chance to go mental one last time. You can't stop yourself from bopping up and down let alone breaking out some moves. Incredibly, everything's packed together to deliver a furious pop-rock punch and it all comes to an end, just in time, before the audience pass out from exhaustion.
The Wombats are here to make you sweat.
Author: Talena
Venue: Southampton Guildhall (Southampton)
Found in: Live Reviews