Photo credit: Rhys Dolman
Words by: Sam Walker-Smart
Hump day or not, nothing was going to stop me from grabbing my dancing shoes and checking out Manchester’s W.H. Lung for a night of synth-laden bangers. Touring in support of their excellent album Every Inch Of Earth Pulsates, the band linking up with Artic Monkeys and M.I.A. producer Ross Orton this time around. It has proven to be a fruitful collaboration, with Orton— dubbed ‘the “Sheffield Steve Albini” —helping the band capture their live power far more convincingly than on their first two efforts.
Before the main event, the crowd was treated to a short but captivating set by Emily Perry, aka Pem. Backed by gentle keys, bass, drums, and a smoke machine, Pem’s fragile vocals and lush guitar tone entranced the room. Typically, supporting acts have to fight to be heard over the noise of bar orders and late arrivals, but it was telling that the quickly filling venue fell silent. Showcasing material from her cloud work EP and recent single “ellipsis,” the songwriter’s laid-back confidence created an immersive atmosphere that invited listeners to get lost in. While Pem’s set was a far cry from the charged sound that the headliners would soon deliver, the audience was grateful for the chance to experience such a spellbinding performance. Personally, I can’t wait for a full-length album from her.
Riding on some impressive reviews and chart success at record stores, W.H. Lung managed to fill the purple-lit interior of Strange Brew to near capacity. While their third album’s nine tracks highlight the band’s more forceful side, I still wasn’t prepared for the electrifying show they delivered. Kicking off with the bruising groove of “Lilac Sky,” Hannah Peace’s cosmic synth lines added tripped-out textures as the track’s mechanical drums got the crowd swaying. From the very beginning, it was clear that W.H. Lung is a far more dangerous creature when thrust in front of a crowd.
This is most evident in frontman Joe Evans, whose dynamic stage presence blended the intensity of Ian Cutis with the chest-thumping frenzy of Future Island’s Samuel T. Herring. Like all great frontpersons, Evans kept the crowd guessing with his unpredictable moves. Much to the dismay of the overly cautious security, the singer alternated between jumping in the crowd, sitting on PAs, climbing on anything within. It was as if W.H. Lung had made it their mission to dispel the myth that synth-led bands are often dull to watch.
The dementedly titled “Second Death of My Face” from their debut album Incidental Music had loyal fans bouncing, as did “Bloom and Fade” —both numbers infused with a bit of Springsteen anthemic energy. If a song makes you want to speed down a highway, it is a success in my book. After an hour of hip-shaking melodies, W.H. Lung whipped out the twitchy funk of “Inspiration!” At nearly eight minutes long, the track gives the five-piece one last chance to let loose, with the Bristol crowd chanting along to the refrain: “Inspiration! Praise the name.”
When the show ended, what struck a chord the most was just how huge W.H. Lung’s sound was. In a smaller venue, this equates to powerful, attention-grabbing noise that commands the room. It also signals a clear pathway to bigger stages. Their songs, both old and new, have scalability to them that could easily soar within an arena setting. They may not be there yet, but if they keep performing shows at this impressive level, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the band filling much larger venues in the near future. Definitely a band to witness live when you get the chance.
