Beating the fearsome winter blues with an evening of blissful summer-time tunes, an indie dream line up of four-piece Circa Waves, supported by Peace and Corella, took over Rock City for the second night of the Death & Love tour. The Mic's Beth Coldwell headed down to soak up the (metaphorical) sunshine...
Despite being fashionably on time on this chilly evening in February, we arrived at Rock City to be greeted by a queue outside twisting further up the road than I have seen it in a very, very long time. We were surprised by the turn out at such an early time of night considering headliners, Circa Waves, weren’t expected to take the stage for another couple of hours. However, on this occasion, it was completely understandable to be so early, due to the jaw-to-the-floor incredible support acts they had chosen to accompany them on tour this year.
In honesty, if I wasn’t aware that I had attended to see Circa Waves as headliners, I could have been easily fooled that the evening ended after Corella completely tore up the stage. Given the size of the crowd, it seemed many others felt the same. Their stage presence was impeccable, the energy bouncing off every wall like a Rock City shaped pinball machine. Front-man Joel Smith even ended the set bouncing around in the crowd- the energy was palpable and this whirlwind of good vibes only manifested more as the night went on.
Having previously dabbled in some of Corella’s feel-good, indie tunes, it was evident they would fit perfectly alongside one of the genre’s greats. After this performance, it seems they are quickly emerging as an artist to watch, steadily making their way into parallel waters. Their set highlighted a growing discography of songs that you listen to in the car or on the way to work and think ‘huh yeah this is great' with your head nodding... then you see it live and all of a sudden you're listening to it on repeat for the next three weeks. Come around has fast become the soundtrack to my mornings. Following this show, it was announced that the band would be attending Rockwerchter festival in Belgium this summer and I am ecstatic at the opportunity to see them rock the stage again.
Following Corella, and an extremely long queue to the bar, we caught the last couple of songs from second support band Peace; California Daze offering a much more relaxed atmosphere with beautiful vocals and soft guitar. A personal favourite from their album In Love, Wraith brought a funkier and more upbeat vibe to their set, that the crowd absolutely loved. Finishing off their time on stage with their cover of 1998 by Binary Finary offered an eclectic mix of sounds that really showcased the band's diversity. Although not quite the same indie vibe as Corella, Peace brought an artistically admirable performance to the evening, with both bands only stirring more excitement within the crowds as incredible precursors to the headliners, Circa Waves.
"Their stage presence was impeccable, the energy bouncing off every wall like a Rock City shaped pinball machine."
Last, but by no means least, the band everyone had been eagerly waiting for, Circa Waves, took over the stage and held it captive until the very last song. The crowd's arms were permanently raised, as if on a theme park ride, eyes glued to the performance. Circa Waves' feel-good, timeless indie sound- nostalgic yet fresh - has evolved, becoming heavier and more dynamic, progressing with the times, and it’s clearly working.
Immersed in the indie fever dream, the crowd was thrilled by a setlist that blended a heavy dose of classics with a sprinkling of new tracks from their latest album, Death & Love, Pt. 1. . The album carries a much rockier feel than it's predecessors, with the band tastefully evolving around their firmly planted indie roots; fast tempos and catchy choruses in songs like Like You Did Before and Let's Leave Together kept the crowd bouncing all night. The band's sound is so well established that, despite the diversity of their setlist, contrasting slower songs like Lemonade and heavier sounds with the likes of Do You Wanna Talk? and Be Your Drug, it flowed impeccably from start to finish. I felt constantly on my toes as to what was coming next; 'to head bang or boogie?' - that is the question.
"Circa Waves have always, and will always, be a staple of the indie-rock genre."
Circa Waves have always, and will always, be a staple of the indie-rock genre. T-Shirt Weather is a classic; the epitome of summer. Rightfully placed as the closing song of the evening, Rock City erupted with singing and dancing, more than it seemed possible after such an energetic evening. A reminder that although it is freezing outside, summery tunes like this will carry the spirit of summer no matter the colour of the sky.
It is evident that Circa Waves are at the top of their game, and they're not slowing down any time soon. Their energy and sound was fantastic and they did their music credit with the energy it was performed with and how crisp and well-rehearsed their sound was. I can't wait for what's next for these guys!
Edited by Bethany Coldwell
Photos courtesy of Circa Waves on Facebook
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