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Tracy Hyman enjoys a typically raucous and atmospheric show
Image: The Vaccines by Tracy Hyman
What did you expect from The Vaccines? Fifteen years ago, The Vaccines stormed into the British consciousness, seemingly out of nowhere, transitioning from 100 capacity venues to 1000+ in the blink of an eye. Punchy, fast-paced, high energy indie rock; the entire first album is about half an hour in length. Fast forward to today and The Vaccines are as fresh and energetic as ever, their live performance honed through hundreds of shows across the world. And whilst this tour is about a celebration of those heady beginnings, it is also a segue into album number seven, with new song Ten Years Too Far thrown into the mix and a promise that “the best is yet to come”.
The night starts as it means to go on with Chicago-based band Brigitte Calls Me Baby. The band put on an effortlessly cool performance. The songs seemingly cherry picking the best of alternative rock across the decades, with a good helping of 80s Morrissey and The Cure mixed in, but with their own distinctive sound. The driving drums and guitars race forwards in Slumber Party. Fast-paced with guitar riffs a plenty, topped with rich, crooning baritone vocals. They end with Impressively Average, which is anything but average.
The Vaccines walk on stage, name emblazoned in lights like a fairground sign. Launching into Wreckin’ Bar, they power through the hits. The volume is turned up, the audience lapping up the infectious sing-along melodies. The whole room is dancing, singing along to every word. Justin prowls the stage, surveying his kingdom, arms in the air and a broad grin.; this is a band at the top of their game. Somebody Else’s Child closes the debut album run, stripped back, lights down low with just vocals and keys. A reflective change of tempo. Beautiful. Cathartic. Justin sitting at the back of the stage.
They up another gear to play a selection from the rest of the back catalogue. From Your Love Is My Favourite Band to Teenage Icon, every song is met with the same reception, the atmosphere never dropping a beat. At one point a large circle appears in the crowd, a guy in the centre, with tufts of green air, seemingly having the time of his life. Then, all too soon the encore, with the debut of new song Ten Years Too Far. “Some friendly faces at the front have learnt the words already….although they may change,” quips Justin. A guitar laden anthemic reflection, an indicator of things to come. They end with All My Friends and probably the best show I’ve seen by them. So, please if they “wanna come back”, please make it soon.
