Some bands sound big on record and then fail to deliver live. Others, such as the esteemed Arcade Fire, manage a lush, layered sound on record and then still deliver with a punch. Luckily for everyone at The Dome, SOURCE included, Warpaint most definitely fall into the latter category.
The Californian girls bought the UK leg of a busy 2017 tour to a close with a bang. Returning to their ‘home from home’, Warpaint have come a long way since they first played The Great Escape ‘by the seaside’ in 2011. September 2016 saw them launch their third album ‘Heads Up;next up Coachella, America and Europe again.
Long-standing favourite ‘Undertow’ was the set highlight, summing up Warpaint at their majestic best. The brooding rhythm section stands out live, complementing the harmonised vocals and general reverb-drenched loveliness. Stella excels on the drums, preventing it from all becoming too floaty.
‘Love Is To Die’ did not sound the strongest by the time we had moved to the back of the venue, but there’s no questioning the energy and sound in the penultimate ‘New Song’. Poppier and more dancey than some of their earlier stuff, it had people in the crowd moving all around us.
Great show, although still sad they didn’t play, ‘Baby’. Just gonna leave that there so y’all can pop along and listen to it…
Brighton Dome, Wednesday 29th March 2017
Words and photos by Ashley Luke Laurence
