Austin – On a humid and suffocating Friday night in Austin, refuge was found as the UK alt/pop/rock band Wolf Gang took the stage at the Parish. Dazzling us with their pop melodies and British accents, the group was a refreshing breeze blowing through an otherwise still and sticky summer evening.
In the midst of a chaotic night on 6th street, the relaxed vibes of the cozy venue were almost as alluring as the music itself. The small and relatively even-tempered crowd made the performance feel very intimate. However, the small cluster of long-time fans jumping and singing in the middle of the room added an element of excitement to the atmosphere.
With that said, the night was a flurry of pop rock delight. Beginning the set with a number off their latest EP called “Black River”, the band set the tone for a pleasant evening, full of visions of youth and optimism. Oozing with sugary synths melodies and a catchy lyric at every turn, the performance had the whole crowd moving, or bobbing their heads at the very least.
Listening to Wolf Gang’s albums, it would be easy to assume that the performance would revolve around the frontman. However, this was not the case. Though his vocals can seem a bit flamboyant at times, singer Max McElligott presented himself with humility and maintained a surprisingly mild-mannered attitude throughout the show. Seeming soft-spoken and humble, the McElligott didn’t make himself at all conspicuous, and I found myself paying way more attention to the outlying members than I normally do. With no leading or overpowering force, the performance felt like a collaboration among colleagues.
Marking the halfway point in their set was another track from their EP titled “Last Bayou”. With yet another glossy, 80′s inspired guitar riff, the set could have become tiresome. Nevertheless, something about lyrics like “these young dreams are all we breathe” paired with a heartfelt live presence made the song hard to say no to.
Only the second stop on their American tour, the band debuted a couple of new gems, including the title track off of their upcoming sophomore LP Alveron. Though the songs possessed the same upbeat hooks and riffs, they were nonetheless ear-pleasers of a more developed style.
Closing their set with energetic “Lions in a Cage” from their debut album, the band neither short-changed their viewers, nor over-stayed their welcome. Though not typically something to consider in rating a live show, the amount of time a band spends on stage has an affect on how you remember the experience. With this final selection, the audience jumped/grooved/swayed as they became hypnotized by the song’s glossy, chantable allure.
Though Wolf Gang isn’t reinventing modern music, their dedication to providing enjoyable pop anthems is something to be appreciated. The world can be harsh, so why not find refuge in these friendly toe-tapping tunes? When things are stressful, these are the songs you find yourself singing as you get ready for work in the morning, making all the burdens of a normal day seem just a little bit lighter.
Ruth Griffin
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