Dream Wife opened the evening and went down well with audience. They’ll definitely have won over a new crowd.

Likewise Shame didn’t do themselves any harm, with an excellent set.

Moving upstairs, the Magic Gang were up next. They’re a decent fun band.

I find Spring King a bit hit and miss. They’re never bad. But sometimes I find them a bit bland. Usually it relates to the size of stage. I think it’s because their drummer is the singer. It’s fine in a small location. But in a big location there’s no ‘presence’. Tonight was a better gig. But I wish they had a traditional singer who can hold my attention

Closing the evening were one of my personal favourites, the Wytches. As expected they were on form and the young audience really went for it adding to a great atmosphere. The Wytches new material wasn’t quiet up to the material off their first album, sounding more ‘metal’ than the ‘Nirvana’. But they sound great on a big stage

Support was from Arcadian and Vitamin.

Magic Gang

I’m not trying to pretending to be ‘feminist friendly’. I’m as sexist as most males. Ellie, the lead singer of Wolf Alice is extremely attractive and it’s part of what makes the band so interesting. But as the Savages have been pointing out over the last year when they’ve written about how they are not an ‘all female’ band, they’re simply a bloody good band. Wolf Alice are the same, a bloody good band and you can only be that if you’re all talented.

You can see from the photos, Ellie’s happy to use her sexuality as part of the band’s image. It’s easy to see this in a cynical way. But the young queue outside the venue before the gig was probably 70% female. Teenage girls aren’t seeing Ellie in a cynical way. They’re seeing a young women with a fantastic voice, strong stage presence, fronting a great indie band and seeing her as somebody to aspire to. The twitter feed the next day was full of girls saying how great the gig was.

I guess what I’m trying to say, is that it’s a great pity if people get distracted from seeing a talented band who seem to be getting better and better as each month passes. Simply because they’re fronted by a female.

Tonight, Wolf Alice were a band bigger than the venue. I mentioned in my last review, that they have everything needed to become a big band. They have a very accessible sound and they’re fantastic live. Ellie’s vocals tonight were even better than I’d heard previously with some interesting little ‘screams’ being added to tail off certain phrases and it’s this constant development of their lie act that’s helped them over the last 18 months expand their audience with every festival performance. It’s pretty amazing that they’ve just sold out the O2 Shepherd’s Bush and tonight managed to fill the Junction in Cambridge, despite the fact that they’ve yet to release an album.

Everything about tonight’s performance was great and the young crowd clearly loved the gig, moshing and crowd surfing throughout the gig. As I left the venue, I heard many expressing that it was ‘the best gig ever’. While I wouldn’t go as far as that. It was a really good gig.

Support tonight was also good. Cambridge’s own Bloody Knees opened the night with a very energetic, direct performance and the Magic Gang were also good.

The Magic Gang

The Magic Gang

Bloody Knees

Bloody Knees

At the end of the gig, both support bands came on the stage. It was fantastic to see three bands on stage enjoying the last evening of a tour where they all appear to have bonded. It was lovely to see these three young bands, who’ve all got a decent future clearly, enjoying themselves. To me, this is what music’s about.

Bloody Knees diving into the crowd at the end of the gig

I have to admit, I bought tickets under false pretences. I’d confused Girl Band with Girls Names. I’ve actually seen both before. But I prefer Girls Names. I didn’t realise my error until it was too late, but as I had a ticket I thought I’d go anyway.

The evening started with a band from Brighton, Object Object. An interesting young band

The lead singer had a voice I liked on some songs and disliked on others. Not sure I can put my finger on why. I think it’s probably a range thing. She sang in either high range or low range, but she didn’t appear to have any midrange. What she had though, was a stage presence. Musically, I was also a bit indifferent. Pleasant without really engaging me.

Next up was Hooton Tennis Club playing decent lo-fi scuzzy indie.They put in a pretty decent performance and I think I’ll give them another listen.

Another Brighton band were up next, The Magic Gang. They appeared to have brought some dedictated fans them. It’s easy to see why, putting in an engaging performance, of catchy indie music. They clearly were enjoying themselves as much as the crowd were. I’m not sure I’d ever put any of their music on the record player, but I be happy to catch them live again.

Finally, Girl Band. Having been at the front for all the gig, I suddenly started to feel a bit ill. Probably a combination of heat, lack of sleep and lack of food. I’d been walking during the afternoon and hadn’t really eatten much (dieting). So I’d headed off to get some water. By the time I got back, the Roundhouse studio was packed. So I headed to the back. It’s probably the furthest back I’ve been at a gig for months. Which is a pity. Girl Band put in a great perfomance and I really wanted to be closer, especially watching the guitarist who mixes feedback samples(?) with guitars for a great sound.

I’d seen them before. They supported Metz. But when you leave a Metz gig, you’re unlikely to remember much else. So although I remembered that I didn’t mind them, I don’t remember enjoying them. Well tonight, I definetly did. Though there doesn’t appear to be much to their songs from a lyrical perspective, I loved the ‘coversational singing (and shouting)’.

Unfortunately, I didn’t want to push my luck, so headed off before the end of their set. Pity, because I was enjoying what I heard.