Live review: Wallows

Amelia Heasley reviews Wallows' recent show in London

ON Wednesday 18th of January, a couple of fans snuck away from uni to see Wallows perform live in London. Midweek?! Yes, scandalous. But necessary.

Wallows? You know them? They wrote ‘Scrawny’, ‘Remember When’ and ‘Are You Bored Yet?’ — and they were absolutely marvellous.

I was privileged to experience this with my close friend whose love for the band exceeds her love for all else. Even me, her family, her boyfriend and her cats. She knows the words to every song and their history inside out; you wouldn’t want to be against her on Mastermind.

The band was incredible, with a stage presence unrivalled in their genre. They played perfectly, and we had the pleasure of meeting the boys that create this music. Their characters shone through in their singing, playing, and appreciative and excitable interactions with their wild and loyal fans. Braeden’s smile alone is an instant crowd pleaser.

As suggested by my friend, their music feels positive and inspires a cheerful, bubbly attitude despite the lyrics talking of heartbreak, complex interpersonal relationships and a range of emotions, often encapsulating adolescent uncertainty and angst.

LYRICS... ENCAPSULATING ADOLESCENT UNCERTAINTY AND ANGST

Perhaps Wallows have masterly created a unique safe space for listeners to feel connected through the lyrics, yet not experience the residual hurt that comes with listening to despondent music. A comfortable bubble for people to get lost in. I suppose they don’t let you ‘wallow’; the music is too good. Their upbeat synth beats are nostalgic and give today’s youth an

Nina Simone

THE indefinable music of Nina Simone, or rather Eunice Kathleen Waymon, is recognisable to all ears, even if you don’t quite realise it. Much of her music echoed sounds from the blues with the zest of jazz and a touch of class that we often link to the music of a Bond movie — ‘I Put A Spell On You’ is perhaps the best Bond song that we never had. It is monumental that a woman of colour rose to the level of success Simone did in a period of American history where the words woman and black did you no favours.

From a humble beginning in North Carolina, Simone funded her own classical music studies as a young woman, then gained widespread acclaim in Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London in the 1980s. This was, by all accounts, the best place to witness her stature and prowess as a performer.

When Simone was asked how she became interested in music, she replied, “I was born into music. The decision was how to make the best use of it.” Performers and musicians of her ilk do not exist anymore, or they are wrongly no longer held on the pedestal they once were. The media and access of the modern day ruins the air of notoriety and grandeur. Irrespective of the performer, activist and personality Simone was, her music speaks for itself. It speaks to the struggle of oppression she faced in life, but still encapsulates a level of class and buoyancy that can make anyone feel like a movie-star. Her music leaves everyone ‘Feeling Good’.

Ewan Edwards, Tech Editor

On This Day

'Caution' — The Killers

12 March 2020 opportunity to experience the musical atmosphere of the 70s and 80s. The band offers the music, but if you’re looking for the full 70s experience, it is not entirely lost; people leave their homes with absurd hair styles, over-funded American TV shows are still unfunny, and the political upheavals never quite settled down.

We all want our lives to look just like a movie, so here is my recommendation: go to a Wallows concert, sing your heart out, and dance. Can you find all the Wallows song references in the article? There are six.

March 2020 is not a month any of us will ever forget. As we were all looking forward to the year ahead, the world was plunged into lockdown. We all had our own coping mechanisms at this time, and mine was music. Thankfully, just a week before lockdown, The Killers released the lead single, 'Caution', from their latest album, Imploding The Mirage

Although that album would be delayed for months, and its respective world tour for years, 'Caution' epitomised months of Covid-induced boredom for me. The line "if I don't get out of this town, I just might be the one who finally burns it down" is certainly one we all related to during lockdown.

Every time March has rolled around since, bringing better weather (and of course my birthday), this song has transported me back in time to turning 17, when the whole world was throwing caution.

Harry Craig, Music Editor

Harry Craig and Jake Avery