After a pretty cool set from an incredible support act in fellow London-based duo Tender to set the mood, Oh Wonder took to the stage at Kingston’s The Hippodrome.
Immediately teasing with the instantly recognisable slightly extended intro to ‘Livewire’ – synonymous to their live shows, they strutted on stage with swagger to enormous cheers and screams from their fans, some of which were undoubtedly a couple of seconds too late to get tickets to their intimate Omeara show a couple of months ago, still – this album release show would work a treat.
Their title single from their album ‘Ultralife’ is a piece of magic that fills you from head to toe with euphoria, followed swiftly, and fittingly by the emotionally gripping ‘All We Do’ – featured on the intro of ITV’s detective drama Unforgotten.
‘Lifetimes’ was probably the song I was mostly looking forward to seeing & hearing live for the first time, inspired by Drake after Josephine & Anthony went to one of rapper’s live shows. Of course it was great.
Being an ‘album release show’, you’d think that they would play one or two of their new, previously unshared pieces from their upcoming second album Ultralife; however I guess it avoids them being leaked prematurely a couple of weeks before the album release date, which was put backwards originally from June 16th to July 14th. Oh such teasers aren’t they!
After coming off briefly for their encore, they finished off with ‘Technicolour Beat’, my personal fave. Damn, it was depressing when it was over. Bring on their Brixton show.
Photography by Jez Pennington
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