After being able to catch the truly great Wild Beasts at an intimate acoustic instore session at Other Music and seeing them play at the always intimate space that is Music Hall of Williamsburg, it struck me that this world is not fair. Why? Because a band as good as Wild Beasts should be much bigger than they are. Don’t take that the wrong way. They have a passionate fanbase; one that sold out Music Hall of Williamsburg and chanted “Wild fucking Beasts” as we waited for them to re-emerge for an encore. Yet, at the same time, it hurts to think that most of the music community, as well as some of my own friends, are ignorant to the greatness of this band. When in fact, these guys should be one of the biggest presences in rock music today.
With their new record Present Tense finally gracing our ears last week, this all should change. Now four records into their career, Wild Beasts have proved their worth with every album being a further development from its predecessor. They’re still true to themselves, just a bit more experimental with electronic/synth-work, a new method to the delicious madness that is their sound.
Last night they opened with Smother’s “Reach A Bit Further”, a good choice that set the table with some familiarity, as most of the night was rightfully dedicated to new songs off Present Tense. They delivered heart-achingly beautiful performances of new cuts such as “Mecca”, “Daughters”, “Dog’s Life” and “A Simple Beautiful Truth.” Powerful delivery of singles “Sweet Spot” and “Wanderlust” were handled with all the potential that their recorded forms promised. Lovely moments of pauses where the quiet let every ounce of beauty sink it, before the powerful breakdown swiftly followed.
Hearing the unique vocal work of  Hayden Thorpe and Tom Fleming still continues to amaze me every time I hear them, still as magical as that first time. No one else sounds like them. No one.
With such an excellent discography and so many personal favorite tracks, I was worried about what older material they would play. I shouldn’t have worried, as they had everything covered. “The Devil’s Crayon” from their debut album was a fiery and raw presence, one that got the crowd screaming “devil” just as passionately as the band did. It’s hard to argue what the best songs were, but it was clear that live, the Two Dancers tracks reign supreme. How can one argue with their performances of “This Is Our Lot”, “Hooting & Howling” and “All The King’s Men”? Everyone in the packed MHOW went berserk during these tracks, as they should.
Next to Present Tense, Smother got the most love. This makes obviously makes sense, seeing as its tracks blend together nicely with the new stuff. They gracefully performed tracks such as “Bed Of Nails”, “Albatross”, and “Lion’s Share,” to the point that it was easy to sink within the music, becoming fully lost in its glory.
This is the beauty of a Wild Beasts show. They offer plenty of genuine human beauty, but also give you many reasons to stomp your feet and rock the fuck out. They have all kinds of assets that they showcase confidently, but most importantly, humbly. They are just happy to be playing music, and it shows.
Go see Wild Beasts when their eventual full tour comes to a city near you. It’s a show you can’t miss as a fan of music.
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