Last night, The Wombats brought Piece Hall to life with an electrifying performance and excellent first show in Halifax.
Fans had made it down early to catch the openers. Fellow Liverpudlians, Circa Waves, were a fantastic choice. With huge songs like ‘T-shirt weather’ and ‘Movies’, they had the crowd dancing along from the get-go, eagerly swaying and taking in every second. This came as a very full-circle moment for the band, having grown up with the Wombats’ music in nightclubs, they knew exactly what the audience was looking for and most certainly did not disappoint.
As soon as the Wombats came out onto the stage, the crowd was buzzing with energy. Opening with ‘Moving to New York’ was a perfect choice to kick off the evening. The crowd cheered from the first note of the iconic guitar intro.
Within seconds, the air tipped from anticipation to complete chaos. Fans jumped freely to the rhythm, with their flares of blue smoke cascading across the sky. The Wombats matched the energy, leaping across the stage. Fed by an untamable burst of excitement, they set the tone for an unforgettable evening.
Hearing ‘Kill the Director’ live is a classic for many. Frontman Murth introduced it as one of the most ridiculous intros to a debut album in the last 5 decades. So ridiculous that it became a cornerstone in catapulting the band’s career into the success that it is.
The song’s punchy, driving guitar riff immediately captured the crowd as they sang along to every word. The real standout moment was the infectious joy as the crowd chanted ‘This is no Bridget Jones’, gaining momentum with each line to a final explosive chorus.
The setlist was packed with fan favourites. It was a true testament to the Wombat’s ability to evolve and create songs that people love just as much as the songs that gave them their initial success. From the lust of ‘Pink Lemonade’ to the angst and unearthing feelings of ‘Lemon to a Knife Fight’, the set captured all the nostalgia and excitement that fans came to hear. They joked that it was so good it could have been a celebration of their love of lemons.
With the crowd still buzzing from the set, their suspense was mounting up, becoming increasingly palpable. The stage fell dark for a quick second, before the crowd roared and called out for the encore.
‘Greek Tragedy’ seemed to be a particular favourite amongst younger fans. The melancholic yearning oozed throughout. Its change of pace captured the hearts of fans. It had a haunting force as it slowly built into a huge final chorus.
‘Let’s Dance to Joy Division’ is a cherished hit amongst indie lovers and certainly those who’d come to Piece Hall. The stage lights shone rainbows into the crowd, illuminating the crowd as they let loose for one last time. It was exhilarating watching their arms flailing carefree, bouncing on each other’s shoulders and jumping to the beat.
Joined by their families in the infamous Wombat costumes, the trio were in full force. They basked in the crowd’s applause, hitting every single note with as much passion as humanly possible. The ending was a bittersweet close to the ‘Oh! The Ocean’ tour, acting as a testament to the bands longstanding career and upwards trajectory.
WORDS BY KATIE LEE
📸 PHOTO CREDIT JANIS LEE
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