Wunderhorse, Live at Brixton O2 Academy, October 2024

A short piece I wrote a little over a year ago after the passion performance of rock from Wunderhorse at their (at the time) biggest headline gig to date, Brixton O2 Academy, October 2024.

As the lights dimmed, the ever-so graceful notes of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ filled the venue, overpowered by yells from the crowd. A record scratch and the gag was up. The infamous opening chords of ‘Loser’ by Beck spilled their way through the venue as the band loaded onto the stage. Being their biggest headline show to date, frontman Jacob Slater took a second of appreciation before completely shattering into their opening song ‘Midas’, the lead single of their recently released album by the same name. The immediate energy carried off the stage and into the crowd obliterated any last audience doubt that this would be just another normal gig.

During the extended intro to ‘Rain’, their fourth single off the recently released album, Slater came in heavy, practically striking the crowd as a means to escalate the already feverish energy ringing through the venue. Unsurprisingly from a performance with such poignant energy, technical difficulties ensued. A halt in the heavy resonance of electric guitar, the band pulled out an acoustic deep cut to keep the crowd entertained. Pulled from a Jacob Slaters solo album ‘One For the Pigeons’, he performed the emotionally charged track alone, the 5000 in the crowd taking in the moment of stillness. During their ‘crowd pleaser’ track, ‘Purple’, Slaters in ears halted, beckoning the crowd to sing the chorus for them. A moment special not only for fans, but for the band as they watched on in silence themselves.

 The ever-so comical encore, and the band came back heavy. Despite the lighting already hinting towards their next song, an extended introduction, no longer played live, surged the anticipation to their fan-favourite ‘Teal’. Sweat and screams back in full swing, we witnessed multiple people carried over the barricade still mouthing the words, shoved left and right but with no means to complain. This is what live music is for. The guitar then spilled into the performance art per se of their track ‘July’, Slater taking on a persona by growling into the mic as the lights flashed through the opening chords, as the crowd barked towards the band mimicking previous performances of their song prior to release. Sweat, screams, and the brief gifting of Slaters guitar to an audience member before being ripped away by security, shows over.

Ending the night waving to fans through the glow of cigarette smoke out their dressing room windows, reminiscent of the tales of heard from my own parents from that very venue in the 90s.