Liverpool band Circa Waves were back in town on Saturday night for a headline, sold out show at the O2 Academy.
Their debut album has been out for only two weeks, but the band already has a reputation that precedes them. Turn on Radio One and you’re guaranteed to hear hit single, ‘T-shirt Weather’ more than once, and the infectious indie-rock sound and nostalgic lyrics will have you humming it from the get-go. With all this in mind, it was great to see the boys embracing the crowds in the city that formed them; they haven’t become too big for Liverpool just yet.
London alternative band Genghar took up one of the supporting slots. They sound like a rockier version of Alt-J, mainly because lead singer Felix’s vocals are very similar to Alt-J’s Joe Newman. NME are already heralding them as ones to watch, and with impressive guitar work on tracks like ‘Powder’ and slick production, it’s easy to see that these guys are going to do well.
When Circa Waves take to the stage, an impressive light show welcomes them, as well as cheers and screams from the packed venue. They quickly launch into tracks from their new album, Young Chasers, and barely stop to take a breath in between songs, except for the occasional jaeger shot on stage.
Considering the band is barely two years old, there is a confidence to Circa Waves that other bands at their level can still seem to lack. In part, it probably comes from knowing they are adored by the crowds that come to see them, or maybe it’s something that happens when a band plays their hometown. Bassist Sam Rourke does make a point of telling the crowd how much they love Liverpool, and though it is a major faux pas for any artist to not tell the crowd how much they love the city they’re currently playing in, it does seem more meaningful from a band that formed here.
With songs like ‘Fossils’, ‘Good For Me and ‘Young Chasers’, the band channel all their energy into playing well and enjoying themselves. After their two song encore, ending the night on ‘T-Shirt Weather’, bassist Sam and guitarist Joe bypass just throwing their plectrums and dive in to the crowd of adoring fans. It’s safe to say, they finished with a bang.
