stereophonics o2 academy
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war on drugs o2 academy
Like a breath of late nineties/early noughties fresh air, the evergreen Welshman sauntered onto the O2 stage with the crowd anticipating (hoping) for a greatest hits show. After all, this was deemed as the band’s only warm-up gig to get them geared up for the festival circuit. With the opening riff of ‘Catacomb’, a track from 2013’s Graffiti on the Train, there was a definite sense that a jaunt back to a misspent youth may not happen. That said, the pint-sized Kelly Jones’ voice seemed stronger than ever with this roaring opener. The new single ‘C’est La Vie’ goes down well, as does 2005’s moody single ‘Superman’ and the classic ‘Mr Writer’. A couple of poppy sing-a-longs follow with ‘Handbag and Gladrags’ and ‘Have a Nice Day’ – but it’s obvious that the crowd are seeking a mosh and the fantastic ‘A Thousand Trees’ and ‘Too Many Sandwiches’ oblige them. These put the meat on the bones of a set that then goes on to showcase classics like ‘The Bartender and the Thief’, plus a brilliant encore including the mighty ‘Local Boy in the Photograph’. On this showing, the festival circuit punters have absolutely nothing to worry about as the boys are as slick as ever and obviously prepared to give the crowd an airing of the old and the new. Words: Richard Price. Photo: Alex Williams
There has been no escaping the buzz that has surrounded psychedelic rockers The War On Drugs following the release of last year’s Lost In The Dream. The record’s mix of indie rock and droning psychedelia pushed the band to new heights leading them to sell out shows across the globe. As the lights dimmed at the O2, the cries of hundreds of fans filled the air as the headliners raced out and ploughed into ‘An Ocean Between Waves’. This succeeded in creating a captivating atmosphere instantly, absorbing the audience in a wash of mesmerizing psychedelic hooks. Frontman Adam Granducie’s warm vocals dripped with emotion as he delved into a set predominantly made up of hits from their latest effort. The atmospherically reflective ‘In Reverse’ was a highlight, mixing up the pace and giving the set a real sense of dynamics. Proving they were more than just an overnight success, The War On Drugs delivered one of the most captivating performances the city has seen all year. Words: Kieran Harris Photos: Kevin Wells For more listings and reviews, head to exposedmagazine.co.uk | 71