REVIEW: The Wombats tour in Bournemouth

For the first time ever, The Wombats graced the O2 Academy in Bournemouth – selling out their show weeks in advance. 

The atmosphere was brimming with anticipation as the crowd waited for the indie rock legends to appear. With drinks in hand and everyone ready to enjoy the music, the lights went down and the vibe went up as Liverpudlian trio; Matthew, Tord and Dan appeared.

The English rock band delivered a 90 minute set of pure brilliance; beginning with their hit song Cheetah Tongue, the mood was set from the get go as their relentless energy put a spell over the whole arena.

As if by magic, every song played seemed twice as loud thanks to the crowd accompanying Matthew with the lyrics. The atmosphere was palpable due to Matthew and Dan taking all the space at the front of the stage, bouncing off each other as they performed for their fans. The mood was electric as the crowd was unified, clapping along to the beat of Tord’s drum.

With their albums having sold over one million copies worldwide, it was easy to see why The Wombats are a popular band to listen to. Their songs ‘Moving To New York’, ‘Let’s Dance to Joy Division’ and ‘Tokyo’ were but a few of the hits that turned strangers into comrades that night, singing along together word-for-word.

The relationship between the indie band and the audience was evident – the crowds love for the band was met back with their love for their fans as they asked if they were enjoying themselves, which was greeted with a ferocious uproar.

Speaking to long-time fan Lucia Ferrara, she described the night as “one to remember”.

“I’ve been a huge fan of the band since I was a teenager, and being able to go see them live at the O2 was amazing.

“Me and my friends went together, but we actually ended up making friends with other people whilst there because of our mutual love for the band.

“I think one of the best parts of the show, obviously apart from their music, was the backdrop – it really made the experience more fun and enjoyable to watch.

“They’re definitely one of the best bands I’ve seen live, and I can’t wait for them to come back again.”

Their performance was visually aesthetic and extremely innovative due to the huge screen that accompanied them. Aside from their signature wombat making an appearance, during ‘Moving To New York’, the band took us down a monochrome street as if we were walking through. Then, during ‘Give Me a Try’, we bounced along down a gameboy looking road – as if we were driving along.

Overall, the Liverpool trio came out and gave an evening to remember – a true testament to their classic sound and memorable style.