Live Review: Wallows - Electric Brixton, London 06/06/2019
Following the release of their debut album ‘Nothing Ever Happens’, Wallows kick off the UK leg of their European tour with a sold out show at London’s Electric Brixton.
Nashville singer songwriter Briston Maroney got the evening started with a performance that would be hard to forget. It didn’t take long to realise that Maroney alongside his band mates Jack and Noah were the perfect choice to open for the band. Winning over the crowd early on with the highs and lows of ‘Caroline’, and indie anthem ‘I’ve been waiting’. This alongside their impressive stage presence, sure did make a mark on London. Either that or the cheeky peck on the lips he shared with bassist Jack. Who doesn’t love a band bromance? Rock and Roll baby!
Time for the main event. Fans had been waiting since the early hours in the morning as hundreds of people wrapped around the building. Before the band had even taken to the stage the energy in the room was electric (pardon the pun). The overwhelming anticipation quickly turned to wide eyed excitement and a wall of unrelenting screams as the lights went down. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a band with fans as loyal as Wallows’.
The set began with ‘Treacherous Doctor’, the second song of their debut album. This was quickly followed by the next song on the record ‘Sidelines’ and ‘Scrawny’. Arguably one of the most popular songs in the pop-rock indie kids’ repertoire, the Spring EP track ‘These Days’ bought along with it the nostalgia of those long hot summers and carefree days. As the the music continued so did the screams and cheers, but none louder than when Braedan began to sing the Drake and Josh theme during ‘Sun Tan’.
The band continued to play a mixture of old and new tunes until they left the stage. Expecting the whole group to reappear for an encore, Braeden came back alone explaining that “the other guys got lost back there, so you’ve just got me”. He proceeded to play the lyrical beauty ‘1980s Horror film’ solo, just him and his guitar. After the first chorus Cole, Dylan and the rest of the band all joined him huddled round the second microphone to create the cutest impromptu a cappella group you’ve ever seen.
As the final song rolled around, Dylan explained that they’ve never asked a crowd to sing the entire intro to a song before, but tonight would be different. If it were to be any crowd, these guys were the ones to do it. Through all the mosh pits and dad dancing, one strum of the guitar and they were away; almost louder than the band themselves! The ‘special relationship’ between the UK and USA may be questionable as of late, but there’s no doubt that London have welcomed these American sweethearts with open arms.
Words and Photography by Milly McAlister