June 18 proved to be a nice, cozy Saturday night in Southend, as British indie rock band The Wombats came to town to hit the stage at Amos’ Southend. A solid number of Charlotte fans came ready to experience a night full of fun and entrancing alternative pop-rock.
Newcomers Coast Modern opened up the night with some bright beach rock. While they’ve only released three songs, the Los Angeles band has a alternative, refreshing sound that is sure to continue gaining traction.
Soon after, the trio from Liverpool hit the stage around 9:15 to an uproar of applause and a sea of open cellphone cameras. The Wombats, drenched in purple lights, kicked off their set with the bouncing track “Give Me a Try.”
“Bouncing” is a good way to describe their 16 song set. It was a non-stop string of their greatest and happiest hits. The crowd would lift their feet from the ground for tracks like “Techno Fan,” “Emoticons,” “Your Body is a Weapon” and a long list of their prominent alternative tracks. Two frat guys who were right up front could’ve put a hole in the ceiling if they put their minds (and feet) to it.
Lead Matthew Murphy would lay on the keys for Glitterbug songs, and switch over to shred on the guitar. His curly hair (which seemed lighter than air) would swish and sway at the pinnacle points of their songs. Bassist Tord Øverland Knudsen continuously paraded around the stage, working the bass with fervor and emotion.
It had been a little while since the band performed in the QC, but during their last Charlotte appearance, Murphy remembered proposing of behalf of a someone in the crowd. Murphy asked about the couple on Saturday night, and the happily married pair yelled out to affirm their attendance.
Throughout their set, the entire crowd would start clapping and jumping without any of the guys on stage prompting them to do so. This sort of proactive reciprocation of The Wombat’s vivacious stage energy made for a memorable vibe and experience that you could only get at a small venue like Amos’ Southend. It’s nice to know that you can find a big band that can still put on a hometown-type show.
For the encore, The Wombats’ ended their set with “Greek Tragedy” (their biggest hit to date) and a favorite from their first album: “Let’s Dance to Joy Division.”
“Yeah, we’re so happy,” the band yelled, and entire venue chanted with them. It was apparent the crowd was elated to end the night on such a high note. But to officially cap the night off, The Wombats went on a surprising 2-minute riff, which they noted as “one last little gift” for the crowd.
And before you knew it, The Wombats hopped off the stage. The trio gave the Charlotte crowd a feel-good, high-energy performance that didn’t need any explanation or fluff. Murphy and Co. flawlessly brought their entrancing and well-crafted alternative songs to life, and their beloved and lovely fans left the venue with fond memories, full hearts and a full camera roll.
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