Narc. Magazine Online
Reliably informed
Hope Lynes enjoys a night of positive vibes and melodic punk
Image: Dream Wife
Late addition to the line-up Venus Grrrls opened the show, and the vocal capabilities of the Hartlepool-via-Leeds band were a real highlight; beautifully melodic and almost operatic, they contrast with the punky instrumental soundscape. The band took the gig as an opportunity to play unreleased song Violet State of Mind, and revamp classics such as Deranged, noting the conversations the song brings up about women in the music industry..
Additional support Straight Girl gave an electric experience that was completely unexpected. Mixing performance and dream-core electro beats, Straight Girl created a psychedelic DJ experience. It was a show without any fear of the crowd and a complete and true expression of the self.
Dream Wife really incorporated their crowd into their set. The band highlighted how being a “bad bitch” is not about gender, and everyone was welcomed to come to the front to dance how they wished. Highlight of the night had to be Somebody, with the crowd chanting along “I am not my body, I am somebody”, with the microphone being passed to screaming fans. The band also treated the fans to new songs such as Party in Room 341 and, from their newest album, Sports!, during which the bassist and guitarist went head to head in an epic battle of riffs and crowd engagement.
The main thing I took from Dream Wife’s gig was their love and passion for the audience. I have never seen a frontwoman as smiley as Rakel, even when she’s screaming, she does it so warmly, and this feeling of warmth and euphoria radiated with me after I left the gig.
