If you’re on the internet, you’ve probably heard of Wolf Alice. And, specifically, you’ve probably heard of their song “Don’t Delete the Kisses” with famous chorus “what if it’s not meant for me? Love.” Eight years later after “Kisses”, Wolf Alice has evolved into something much bigger. At The Newport Music Hall on September 25th, Wolf Alice demonstrated to Columbus why over the past 15 years they’ve earned their place as one of Britain’s most accomplished genre-bending rock groups.
Wolf Alice, fronted by singer Ellie Rowsell, formed in 2010 and with every album grew more confident and experimental with their sound. Their newest LP, The Clearing, showcases Rowsell’s dynamic vocals, songs about the peace and complexity of one’s thirties, and a diverse mix of sounds. Wolf Alice is at the top of their game, and nothing highlighted this more than the juxtaposition of old and new songs played back to back. As Rowsell sang, “Did it help to take the thorn out/telling the whole world you’d been hurt?” She seemed to question not just her career, but whether writing about her life truly helps or if the act of creating music is, at times, selfish and narcissistic.
They then followed with a song from their 2021 record, Blue Weekend “How Can I Make It OK?” which takes on a darker subject in a much less upbeat and pop forward tone. While their previous works have a much more Lana Del Rey/Rumours sound, The Clearing leans towards Blondie and Kate Bush inspirations. It’s a clear evolution on display in their show.
As they continued the show with “Formidable Cool” from Visions of Life, their 2017 album, they revealed the layered complexity of their sound, demonstrating more shoe-gazey, grunge influences. It’s clear that Wolf Alice still has the angst and determination that was pronounced in their earlier music but it has taken a more theatrical twist as they’ve grown as artists.
An absolute highlight of the show, “Just Two Girls” truly shows how both the artists and their music has developed. “Just Two Girls” is a beautiful exploration of female friendship, showing how Rowsell can be praised for her work as a female artist and exist outside of the world of male competitors. At this point in the show it really became clear that Rowsell is absolutely the star of Wolf Alice, as she should be against the shiny silver background where the lights literally surrounded her in the shape of a star. Supported by the rest of the band and the incredible usage of lighting design, Ellie Rowsell was able to hold the audience captive with her strength lying in vulnerability. It was clear that their current sound allows Rowsell to put her vocals and the group’s lyricism in the forefront of their music.
Some other stand moments from the show included songs: “The Sofa”, “Bread Butter Tea Sugar”, “White Horses”, and “Bloom Baby Bloom”. These songs were able to allow the artists to perform at their absolute best. By the time the encore came around and Wolf Alice played their top hit “Don’t Delete The Kisses”, I was hit with the realization that though it was their most popular song, it wasn’t even one of their best ones. Since 2017, Wolf Alice has grown so much as musicians and though “Don’t Delete The Kisses” is still a universally loved song it lacks the same emotional awareness and confidence as many of the songs on The Clearing.
Wolf Alice’s performance at The Newport Music Hall, was not only a display of their musical abilities but a celebration of how far they’ve come throughout their musical careers. The band has been able to hold onto the raw emotion that first gained them listeners while harnessing it for a more theatrical and experimental sound. Wolf Alice is not just a band with hits, but a group with the ability to push the boundaries of rock music.
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