More about: The War On Drugs

As they stop by for the third time in this album cycle, The War On Drugs are taking the scenic route round the UK. Halifax’s majestic Piece Hall and a second-to-last slot at Glastonbury’s Other Stage are some highlights along the road, but the pick of the bunch? Cornwall’s Eden Project, hosting the Philly rock legends for a unique headline show in the heart of the countryside.

“I’m as excited to see the Eden Project as I am to play Glastonbury” drummer Charlie Hall tells Gigwise, calling in from the Netherlands on a rare day off from the hectic schedule. “The Eden Project is incredible, I can’t wait to just walk around and have that experience there. Halifax too, Trinity College in Dublin. Those are the places I’m more excited about than Glastonbury.”

Indeed, as I’m sitting on the grass watching support act Beth Orton, Hall is seen roaming through the crowd, taking in the glorious surroundings. It’s a fitting home for the night for such an esteemed band, whose masterclass in live sound often seems to go under the radar. The UK’s newest stadium act, Sam Fender, has cited them as a crucial influence (look no further than ‘Mantra’) whilst The Rolling Stones hand-picked them as their Hyde Park support act last summer. Their legacy is already guaranteed, but they’re seizing the present - prolific as ever.

"This is our most primal form of expression, I think"

Opening with ‘Pain’, that opening riff still sends shivers down your spine, a tone so intrinsically tied to frontman Adam Granduciel. The on-stage feeling is mutual for Hall, perched behind the kit. “[Those moments resonate with me] every night. Every night’s new, to be honest with you. You’re directly connecting with people and that’s what I love about music. It’s our most primitive form of communication that we have before language. This is our most primal form of expression, I think. To have that experience every night, it doesn’t matter if we’ve played ‘Under The Pressure’ a thousand times. It’s new to someone every night. For me, that’s as good as it being the first time.”

Reeling off the hits, most War On Drugs tracks clock in near ten minutes, making for some spectacular live renditions. Seven members now on stage, that wall of sound is dictated by the dominant piano, while Granduciel works his magic on the pedalboard. ‘An Ocean Between The Waves’ and ‘Eyes To The Wind’ are nothing short of sublime, yet Hall is keen for the nostalgic ‘In Reverse’ to make its way back into the set. “When that song [‘In Reverse’] builds to its crescendo, everyone’s dug in a little bit more. That’s one of those moments for me. I still get goosebumps, because I think back to 2014, when things were changing and growing fast - the band was really kind of connecting deeply.”

Breakout album Lost In The Dream feels half a world away, with The War On Drugs having firmly cemented their arena band status. The record’s impact is immortal, with ‘Red Eyes’ sending the Cornish crowd into raptures, the same way it first did in 2014, as Hall recalls. "I think about it [2014] a lot. That kind of thing only happens once. Going from a van to a bus, thinking that KOKO was going to be as big as it got. You blink and you’re playing Ally Pally, then at the O2 Arena. You come home from a tour and your manager says you’re going back out next week. Nobody knew what the feeling was. It was exciting at the time, thinking that maybe this is going to be sustainable for my family.”

It’s a record that surely calls to be commemorated as it turns ten next year - an idea Hall is open to, on paper. “I’m nostalgic! I’m not being cagey, but it hasn’t come up. I’m sure it’s been thought about, in the past fifteen years there’s been an increased celebration of anniversaries. It would be fun to celebrate, hopefully, to play the whole record.” The band aren’t in a hurry to release new music, prolonging their mammoth touring schedule in support of I Don’t Live Here Anymore instead. “I think everyone’s constantly trying to stay creative, stay sharp and find new inspirations in things - whether it’s new instruments, songs, bands. It’s a constant thing. The question of when new music will materialise? You just never know. Zero idea, to be honest.”

We’re treated to plenty of items from I Don’t Live Here Anymore. Deluxe addition ‘Oceans Of Darkness’ is a welcome burst of energy whilst the Grammy-nominated ‘Harmonia’s Dream’, the apex point of their latest record, provides an enormous sing-along to the outro riff - something a UK knows how to do best. “It happened recently in ‘Harmonia’s Dream’ where the crowd were singing the riff over and over, after the song ended. It’s like that football thing, people getting tribal. Growing up listening to Pink Floyd’s Meddle, all these people singing what I knew as a show tune [Liverpool anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ at the end of ‘Fearless’]. As a little kid, that was so strange, but then I learned it was a football anthem.”

"It’s a privilege to do this job."

As the sun sets over the Eden Project, the iconic biomes begin to light up, mirrored by The War On Drugs’ minimalistic light show turning up a notch. The inevitable climax of ‘Under The Pressure’ arrives, Granduciel as vivacious as ever while the happy-go-lucky Hall sways behind the drum kit. Joking about the band’s adventures on the zip wire before soundcheck, they’re making the most of their time on the road - happier than ever to be here. “I’m just truly, truly grateful to get to do this”, Hall tells Gigwise. “Learn[ing] about life and other cities, towns, countries, continents. I’ve been waiting to get back to Brighton for years! I’ve got seven vintage shops on my list to try and catch before soundcheck.”

‘Occasional Rain’ closes the night, easing us out in the same manner from when I first caught the band in Leeds last year. “With that Leeds show, there was just this euphoric feeling”, Hall recalls, having graduated from the Brudenell Social Club all the way to the First Direct Arena. The band have a visible emotional attachment in every corner of the UK, resulting in a treasured fanbase who lap up every lick, groove and lyric. Humble as ever, The War On Drugs continue to deliver a world-class live show, the motivation as strong as ever. Here we are, we’re just a bunch of best friends playing this music - and all of a sudden it’s resonating with an exponential amount of people. It’s a privilege to do this job.”

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More about: The War On Drugs