Wolf Alice’s Thrilling, Energetic Show at Paradise Rock Club
By Karenna Umscheid
The winds were biting and chilly on the evening of November 11, but standing in the cold for two hours for a great spot at Wolf Alice’s concert was entirely worth it. Fueled with chicken from the neighboring Raising Cane’s, my friend and I scored a perfect barricade spot. The stage glowed blue over red curtains, and the crowd was friendly and buzzing with fans of various ages excited for the show.
When the opening act Bria Salmena took to the stage, the audience demonstrated their excitement, engaging with her happily. Bria’s strong, gorgeous voice echoed through the house. Her blend of rock elements and powerful vocals served as a fantastic warm-up for Wolf Alice, increasing the anticipation for the main act.
Wolf Alice walked onto the stage surrounded by cheers, applause, and a crowd full of people ready to sing along to “Smile,” a fierce song that ramps up excitement and a bass that beats from the ground through my arms. This was followed by “You’re A Germ,” an upbeat track that features the lead singer, Ellie, screaming and counting from one to seven.
They then reverted to some slower jams in “Beautifully Unconventional” and “Formidable Cool,” both from the album Visions of a Life. They followed those with “Delicious Things” and “Lipstick on the Glass,” from Blue Weekend. These songs, though slower, were still screamed along to by the crowd with as much vigor as the more upbeat songs.
The energy reached an incredible peak with the faster-paced hits from Blue Weekend such as “How Can I Make It OK?” and “Play The Greatest Hits,” where the lights glowed in hues of primary colors. With Ellie belting into the microphone and the guitarist Joff Oddie kicking to the beat, the venue was electrified. At one point, Joff leaned on a speaker, hovering over me as he played, silhouetted in blue light;moments like this demonstrate the close proximity the band held to the crowd, and how they used that closeness to engage with the audience, ramping up their energy and encouraging even louder cheers. Wolf Alice’s rock anthems are magical in concert, the volume and power reverberating through the ground of the house, and into the jumping feet of the audience.
They ended their set with “The Last Man on Earth,” a tune that blends lyrics to scream and lyrics to sway to. They pointed out how they recognized some familiar faces, lovingly connecting to the crowd.
The cheers that followed the band after they exited the stage didn’t end until they returned for the encore. Every fan knew that we were about to see “Don’t Delete The Kisses” played live, one of the greatest songs you could ask to see live. Ellie, standing shrouded in yellow and purple fog, said “You ready for this one?” and the cheer escalated, hands waving in the air as the song began. Wolf Alice put on an absolutely phenomenal show, their power and energy undeniable.