Photo: WENN
The Wombats’ album releases have been rather sporadic but you certainly wouldn’t know it tonight looking at the almost cult-like crowd that is in attendance tonight.
Indeed, what is so refreshing about this crowd is that there is such a variety of people, yet not one of them is watching passively. Once ‘Your Body Is a Weapon’ is played, you truly come to understand the power of their fans: every single line is chanted at the top of one’s lungs. But more importantly, it is not as though this happens for one hit single. Looking around, it seems as though every Wombats song is a bonafide hit. Everything from ‘Moving To New York’ to ‘1996’ receives a similar reception.
The first time that the crowd get a break in this explosive set is when ‘Techno Fan’ plays. Even during a slower moment such as this, fans cannot help but break into ecstasy. It is a genuinely gob-smacking sight and something that many bands would kill to achieve in their crowds.
Whilst Glitterbug was only released yesterday, these songs feel like old favourites in terms of the way Matthew Murphy and co. play them. There’s something incredibly confident and enthusiastic about the way in which songs such as ‘Greek Tragedy’ and ‘The English Summer’ are played but more interestingly, they sound far rawer and emotive for a live audience proving that The Wombats are not simply one-trick ponies in the studio.
The Wombats might not ever have the biggest audience around. But it’s clear that what they are doing, they are doing damn well. Regardless of your prior opinions about this band, after tonight, it becomes nigh on impossible to doubt their talent.
