We Are Scientists + Flowers + The Alibi @ o2 Institute, 27th April 2016
We Are Scientists have quite a storied career. Based out of New York, they have amassed a huge following and a reputation for their “banter” onstage. They have also managed a sound that is instantly recognisable, being the underrated, but much loved indie rock giants from America. They also have a reputation for taking “new” bands on the road with them. Tonight is no different. Tonight, they bring us their new album; “HELTER SELTZER”.
I’ve never — as far as I recall, anyway — seen a band that have actually entered a stage shouting “COME ON THEN, LET’S HEAR YAAA!” and other assorted encouraging phrases. You’d be forgiven for thinking a group of ‘lads’ had haphazardly stumbled into the venue and onto the stage. Then they picked up their instruments and belted out a few “tunes.”
This is The Alibi, of Dartford, South London. They are a “gritty, grotty rock’n’roll band” through and through. At this stage of the night, the room is semi-empty, but slowly filling up. With each break between songs, the frontman, whose name I didn’t catch, gets more and more animated. He is an affable cockney, throughout the set, his accent seems to get stronger. About two songs in, they play a song that reminds me of a classic rock song that I can’t quite name just now. They play hard, they play heavy(ish) and they play fast. To check their Facebook (search “The Alibi Dartford”) and see only 677 (at the time) likes, I was surprised to see that it was so low.
This band are tight and should be on more tours, getting more exposure and a load more fans. They’ll be on big bills soon, and their passion, coupled with their showmanship, more than matches their musical talent. Go and check them out. Never before had I heard a band get kicked off stage over the speakers. That’s right, they played all through their timed set, and despite protesting “we’ve got one more tune,” they were out of time. Sucks really, they were doing so well.
Another first for me was the following band; Flowers. A three piece band from London, who enter to a red backlit stage. They are almost indescribable in their sound. It’s something I’ve never heard in a live setting. The vocalist has a haunting voice, resulting in choral vocals over an eclectic guitar. It’s a spectacle to hear. But not to watch, because they didn’t really move. Save for the guitarist, who kind of just spun in a circle occasionally, there was minimal movement on the stage, which made it feel like there was a massive divide between the stage and the audience, when in actual fact, it was only 1 metre between the barrier and the stage.
They start slowly. Very slowly. But it’s beautiful. Despite the lack of stage presence, the music is so beautiful, and it does all the talking. This is a band who don’t play music, they make art. Slow, thoughtful, choral art. The tempo does pick up some, with some songs starting to sound like a Smiths B-Side, with a slight hint of slow grunge. I don’t know how to feel about Flowers, if I’m truly honest, and I think many people felt the same. I heard great things about the music, but a selection of comments about how they should’ve moved a bit, or “at least face the crowd.”
They leave the stage to little fanfare. Which is a bit of a shame.
Now for the main event. After an intro that consists of someone (possibly Keith?) song about not wanting a drink that isn’t Seltzer, a lovely not-so-subtle nod to their new album. They open with “This Scene Is Dead,” which they later categorise as being one of “the classics,” and follow it with Track 1 off Helter Seltzer, “Buckle”. “Buckle” goes over incredibly well, and many of the audience were singing every word of it. The set is mostly “classics”, but the new songs go over as if they were already classics. And they will be.
A crowd favourite in “Nobody Moves, Nobody Gets Hurt” is sandwiched between 2 new ones, and strangely enough, it works so very well. “Classic Love” and “In My Head” are beautiful tracks, and as with approximately 98.34% of We Are Scientists’ songs, sound exponentially better live. Keith and Chris perfectly complement each other, and their effortless, fun style makes for an incredible show.
Now, We Are Scientists are known for their unique brand of crowd interaction, and tonight is no different. They invite a topic that is shouted from the crowd, in the way of the Junior Doctor scandals. But in true We Are Scientists fashion, it takes a slight twist to the surreal. The Junior Doctors become “small children with scalpels and other tools” and “medical training”, which is a hilarious topic, which runs throughout the evening with scenarios and arguments about whether children should be allowed to be surgeons. There’s also a “knife crime joke” that absolutely slays. If they ever decide to give up the musical life, they will indubitably make it as a double act, the likes of Mitchell and Webb, Lucas and Walliams, or maybe even — dare I say it — Morecambe and Wise.
There’s a massive demand for “Cash Cow”, which becomes the subject of a vote. It boils down to “It’s A Hit” or “Cash Cow”, with “It’s A Hit” taking favour. Set closer “After Hours” has always been one of my favourite We Are Scientists songs. Tonight, they are performing it in a way I have never seen before. There’s something especially raw about it. And it made it infinitely more potent, and indisputably more beautiful in its simple grandeur.
The curfew is set at 11. At half 10, most bands would have ended the show, in order to get everybody out of the venue. Not We Are Scientists. They have just took the stage for their encore, which is FOUR SONGS LONG. Include in that all the patter, and this gig was never going to end. Which is brilliant, because it is so much fun, and it’s such a fantastic atmosphere to be in. They truly “Make It Easy” to enjoy yourself and “leave your hang-ups back at the door”. Admittedly, one of these songs is “Cash Cow” due to the massive demand from the crowd, who continued to call for it before they left the stage, even though it was outvoted earlier in the evening.
All in all, We Are Scientists are a joy to behold. They show no signs of slowing down, and all the signs of being held in a higher station, one that they wholly deserve.
Don’t skimp on this band.
Words: Adam Reynolds
Photographs: Jack Kirby