On Thursday night London 4-piece Wolf Alice made their NYC live debut at Baby’s All Right. Although it was their first time here, it actually wasn’t my first time catching the hot rising band, as I caught them last year during SXSW.
The band wasn’t shy about admitting how much getting to play in New York meant to them, calling it “a dream.” Based on the overwhelmingly positive response from the crowd, their dream is just getting started. You wouldn’t know that it was the groups first show in the big Apple, as the packed room at Baby’s was filled was enthusiastic young fans who knew almost all the material that the group played from their EPs.
They teased material from their soon to be released debut album (“You’re a Germ,” “Giant Peach,” and “You’re Love’s Whore”) as well as more well known cuts such as opener, “Moaning Lisa Smile.” It was a brisk performance, just shy of 10 songs, not a total surprise considering they haven’t released an album yet. “Fluffy,” the first track I heard from them closed out the show in epic fashion, allowing me to recall the blissful sensation I had when I discovered it.
Theres a 90s tone to the vocals of singer/guitarist Ellie Rowsell, as well as the Pixies-esque guitar riffs that go along with them. They modernize the shoegazey guitar rock of the 90s, with a youthful exuberance that isn’t going to go unnoticed. There’s already plenty of confidence to be found with them on stage, something you don’t normally see, or expect, from a young band trailed by a fair amount of buzz.
Wolf Alice will return soon for SXSW and another trip to New York. This is the time to see them play, before they’re inevitably headlining the much bigger stages that await them (they just played the O2 Arena in London, opening for Alt-J).
1. Moaning Lisa Smile
2. Your Love’s Whore
3. Storms
4. 90 Mile Beach
5. You’re A Germ
6. Blush
7. Giant Peach
8. Bros
9 Fluffy
“You’re Love’s Whore,” “Giant Peach” and “You’re a Germ,” – new
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