Circa Waves, a British indie rock band from Liverpool, played the O2 Forum in support of their latest album Different Creatures, released on March 10. Between Different Creatures and their debut album Young Chasers, their music ranges from more upbeat rock that soundtracks summer drives to the beach (“Get Away”, “T-Shirt Weather”) to garage-rock inspired tracks that suggest influence from the Strokes (“Wake Up”, “My Love”). Their guitar-driven sound is packed with vitality, and catchy guitar riffs and hooky choruses are on-par with pop songs but infused with a grungier rock sound. The use of distorted vocals is a nod to Julian Casablancas (lead singer of the Strokes), though the vocal melodies themselves lack the same broody apathy, tending towards pop-inspired melodies.
The excitement in the O2 Forum hung in air, with a full crowd packed into the pit and a balcony seating area, though no one was sitting for long. Both support bands enjoyed a hugely reactive crowd as fans jumped and danced along to the Pretty Reckless-esque band InHeaven and indie pop-rock band the Magic Gang.
Circa Waves took the stage bursting with energy, and as drummer Colin Jones slammed on the drums, lead singer Kieran Shudall, guitarist Joe Falconer, and bassist Sam Rourke took cues from his vigor.
Coming up, Circa Waves will continue touring around Europe with a few dates in Japan. They’ll be supporting a diverse range of acts from Phoenix to the XX to Eminem, and playing the UK’s biggest festival, Glastonbury, at the Worthy Farm on June 21st.
Worth a trip to the UK? We think so!
Photos from Circa Waves at Alexandra Palace 2/10/17 by Abi Raymaker
