The last time Wolf Alice made a stop in Philadelphia was in 2017 at the Trocadero Theatre. After a nearly eight year wait, patient fans in the city arrived in droves for the band’s sold out show at Union Transfer on September 15th. The crowd was fairly diverse in age and excitement was evident in every cluster of friends. Merch lines were wrapped around the venue lobby, and spirits were high for a Monday evening.
Wolf Alice is composed of lead singer Ellie Rowsell, guitarist Joff Odie, drummer Joel Amey, and bassist Theo Ellis. Though Joff was notably absent from the lineup (he’s back at home awaiting the birth of his first child), substitute John Victor meshed well with the group. The setlist showcased a careful blend of fan favorites, both old and new, spanning across all four of their albums.
The band released their fourth record, The Clearing, on August 29th ahead of the start of their North American tour. Earning generally positive reviews from critics, the album fittingly marked a start of a new era for the group. The band took a new, yet nostalgically familiar direction with an innovative 70s sound. Their writing skillset shined when paired with the stylings of the album’s producer Greg Kurstin.
After an opening set from singer-songwriter Willy Mason, Wolf Alice dropped the lights and hit the stage to eager cheers from fans. They opened with “Thorns,” the well orchestrated first track on the new album thick with melodrama. Kickstarting a packed 21 song setlist, the band commanded the stage with an infectious cool and loose energy. The enthusiasm floated with ease between the members as they entertained the hopeful audience.
One of the peaks of the show started with a punchy, rousing rendition of “Yuk Foo” when Ellie replaced her microphone with a large megaphone to chant “Cause you bore me / You bore me to death, well deplore me / No, I don’t give a shit!” The rabid energy carried over right into “Play The Greatest Hits,” where Ellie’s guttural vocals shined as she crawled across the stage on all fours. In another bout of fervor, the band took a fun take on the outro of “Giant Peach” off of their debut album, interpolating bits of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” and Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man.”
The excitement was expertly balanced with some of their sentimental, slower songs. Joel took a moment to come out from behind the drums and lend his vocals to deliver a beautiful rendition of “Safe From Heartbreak (if you never fall in love)” with Ellie. The duo’s vocals also paired well over “White Horses” off of their latest album, a song rife with themes of identity and family over catchy acoustics.
The band closed the show with a two song encore — “Moaning Lisa Smile,” a nod to their debut album, and fan favorite “Don’t Delete The Kisses.” As the band danced around the stage, fans were surprised with a barrage of bubbles and a shining disco ball, matching the energy of the dream pop ballad. All in all, Wolf Alice put on a show that was definitely worth the wait.
SETLIST: 1. Thorns2. Your Loves Whore3. Formidable Cool4. Bloom Baby Bloom5. Just Two Girls6. Leaning Against the Wall7. How Can I Make It Ok?8. Safe From Heartbreak9. White Horses10. Smile 11. Delicious Things12. Bread Butter Sugar Tea13. Yuk Foo14. Play The Greatest Hits15. Silk16. Play It Out17. Giant Peach18. Bros19. SofaENCORE:1. Moaning Lisa Smile2. Don’t Delete The KissesWords and photos by AnnaMarie Otor