Review: Verite + The Wombats
It’s always interesting to go to a live show in a city you’ve never visited. You never really know what to expect. It’s always a little nerve wracking to venture into the unfamiliar venue. What will the lights be like? Will the sound be okay? Is the view better from the front or the back? I wandered into the Double Door in Chicago with high expectations and a little bit of jittery nervousness.
The show was sold out - a rite of passage for any Lollapalooza after show performer. I didn’t really know what to expect from Kelsey Byrne, better known as Vérité, as I had never heard of her before. The opening slot to a show of this caliber can be a very overwhelming thing. However, I was immediately charmed by a schoolgirl kind of jittery, yet still very captivating stage presence. Right out of the gate, it was obvious that the band in front of me had immense musical talent. The music nerd inside of me was absolutely captivated by how smoothly the set ran. Most of the tunes began with simply a drum count-off instead of an intro, which, as a singer myself, I had immense respect for. With Vérité’s unique blend of electro-pop and a bit of R&B soul, the transition from studio to the stage is often risky. However, what it takes to emulate all of the interesting sound qualities that make her sound unique are what made the live show very interesting for me. I loved the percussive elements of the bass guitar and the syncopation of the drums. The crowd was absolutely enchanted by Byrne’s stunning voice. It was a thick, velvety sound that filled the room and transfixed the audience. It was the perfect opening act to get the audience excited for the headliner, The Wombats.
Although probably still jetlagged from a flight from Australia, the three-piece band showed no sign of fatigue. Perhaps what impressed me the most about the Liverpool band is their immense stage presence. With only 3 members, I figured there would be some awkward, unused stage space, or a lack of fullness in their sound. Instead, I was absolutely blown away by how charismatic the trio was. With each member playing at least 2 instruments during the set, the band sounded just as good, or even better, than they do on their albums. Singer Matthew Murphy’s satire made transitions between songs something I looked forward to. I wanted to hear what he would say or do next. Often, drummers feel very isolated from the audience, but Dan Haggis often interacted with the audience, which made the set much more intimate. I don’t think there was a single moment that bassist Tord Øverland Knudsen wasn’t jumping around. There was nothing lacking in the trio’s stage presence – their command and use of the entire stage, and interaction with the audience was one of the best I have seen. The room’s energy never slowed down, as the dedicated crowd sang and danced along to not only hits from the band’s newest album, Glitterbug, but also their older albums. I truly felt like I was in a British indie film, which is something I have always wanted to experience.
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