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Branching further afield than Cardiff this week, we take a look back two weeks to 15th January & across the border to discuss how LA-based trio “Wallows” took on the O2 Academy in Bristol, with help from their special guests, Australian band MAY-A.
As the sold out crowd eagerly awaited the headliners, bright blue logos adorned the screens. Although some in the crowd may not have known who they were or what they were about before the show, MAY-A came out with all the energy & damn well made sure everyone knew about them by the end of their set. In a truly animated performance, the singer, Maya (who could have guessed it!) danced around the stage whilst they played hit after hit including “Sweat You Out My System” & “Swing of Things” as the crowd got ready for the night of music. Before bowing out arm in arm to a seismic round of applause, the band left no wonder why their feature on Flume’s “Say Nothing” reached number 1 on Triple J’s Hottest 100 poll this week, As well as headlining in London later this year, after that performance I have a feeling we won’t be hearing the last of MAY-A anytime soon.
After the electricity of MAY-A, a nervous but excited energy was brewing up in the O2 as we waited for our LA boys to take the stage. Although taking a little while to make their way on (coming on around at around quarter past), the wait certainly was worth it, as Dylan Minnette, Braeden Lemasters & Cole Preston opened with the slightly ironic, “I don’t want to talk” (off their latest album “Tell Me That It’s Over”) to wondrous reception.
Going under the moniker “The Narwhals” before changing to be “Wallows” in 2017, the band has been a mainstay in the international alternative/indie rock scene for a number of years, especially since their global hit “Are You Bored Yet” featuring Clairo. Since their initial singles “Uncomfortable” and “Pleaser” (which are still crowd pleasers till this day), the band has release a plethora of albums, EPs and singles exploring a variety of sounds and moods, as seen in the contrast between songs like “Scrawny”, “Nobody Gets Me (Like You)” and “Drunk on Halloween”. Therefore, going into this gig, the Wallows boys certainly had no shortage of options to put on their setlist.
Well they certainly made the right calls as throughout the set the crowd was electric (partly thanks to a great support act) and was a real showing in how a well put together, crowd pleaser setlist can truly make a night. From the usual roars when they came on stage to the last cheers as they exited, everyone in the crowd was clearly a fan of the band and it really did show. Even during Braeden’s mishap trying to get the starting riff of “Dig What You Dug”, there was a real positive atmosphere and appreciation for the boys and their talents in Bristol.
Although Wallows can be considered a quintessential indie rock band and their setlist was hit after hit after hit, there certainly was a clear display in how truly talented the band members are and how varied their music can be throughout the night. From Dylan playing the harmonica during the opening song to then going on the drums whilst Cole sang “Quarterback”, to the contrast between the crowd pleasing “Are You Bored Yet” encore, and the emotional, phone lights on “Guitar Romantic Search Adventure” (video below): the part time musicians, part time actors certainly made the night just like a movie.
Overall, it may not have been an art show extravaganza like arena tours such as the 1975’s are (review posted last week), but for what it was, an intimate O2 Academy concert, you simply can’t do much better than Wallows & MAY-A.
PS: Listening guides for both Wallows & the 1975 drop Friday before MoveOnUp Monday returns next week so stay tuned!
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