Waxhouse Concert Review from Alt Sounds + EP Review

[hangout.altsounds.com] The Monto Water Rats is an awesome little place near Kings Cross Station that I've been to a few times now to see various bands. It's got an old feel about it which makes it the perfect kinda of place to showcase new music, the old feel about the place makes it seem like one of the kitsch places in Camden town you went to in your teens, the kind where you prayed you wouldn't be asked for ID because you didn't have any. There is something about that familiarity that makes for a good night from the off. As you walk in you come into a bar with seating and tables around the edges, almost a pub kind of vibe, you then go up some stairs and into a back room where the bands get to play.

Originally I was there to see a couple of bands, but the headliners pulled out last minute so that meant I only got to see Waxhouse and although that sounds like a negative it kind of wasn't, it was a shame I didn't get to see what the other band had to offer, but I feel Waxhouse may have stolen the show a little from any band they played with.

I guess if I had to liken them to a band already out there it would be the Arctic Monkeys. They had similar bouncy bass lines and choppy feeling riffs, the music made you wanna dance, it had that alluring pull that a lot of popular music has without it feeling mainstream. They played with gusto and without wanting to sound patronizing, they played with a child-like enthusiasm which was so refreshing to see. It was like they were under no illusions that without the crowd they would be somewhere, they knew the fans were important and they made them feel like it. There was a real intimacy to the set, it felt like you were a friend and it was like a private set played just for us.

The crowd was really big actually, you could barely move for the people but despite that Waxhouse kept that intimate feeling and it didn't matter if you were right at the front or right at the back you felt included, special, like the band wanted you personally to be there. The communication between the lead singer and the crowd was different, it wasn't all in-your-face and aggressive like a lot of bands. He was subtle, almost gentle about the way he sang a few words here and there to specific people in the crowd which they responded to amazingly. The reception from the audience was more then warm, it was straight up affectionate and the flow of energy to and from the audience and the band made for a beautiful experience.

And so I guess in conclusion Waxhouse are definitely a band to check out, if they had to be summed up in a word it would be fun-times-with-friends and yes that is a word, it maybe a made up one but its the best one available to describe this band.

In other Waxhouse news... check a recent review of their debut EP...

[thebeatsurrender.co.uk] Illusionnaires was passed to me by the band when they played for us at The Northern Monkey back in June and while I’d really enjoyed their live set, I wasn’t sure if they’d be able to match the energy of the live show on record, something a lot of good live bands do find difficult.

No such problems for these young lads though as they’ve transferred the enthusiasm and exuberance from that gig into a polished yet highly energetic release. The title track is clearly the star of the show, it jumps straight into things with a delicious opening hooking you in, before settling down into a bubbly rhythm.

"Sloth" is fittingly for the title much slower in pace but that just shows another angle to the band and then we get an in house remix from one of the band members of the title track, it’s got a sprawling more dancefloor driven edge this time around.

The EP closes with a demo version of "Vultures" and while even there demo tracks are sleek and well oiled sounding compared to most it does a good enough job of making you want to hear more while still being an enjoyable track in its own right.

A very accomplished band who clearly have a lot of maturity amongst them, as performers, songwriters and in their song construction, they’ll need to keep developing as their sound (think Foals, Two Door Cinema Club etc) is very now (a good thing now but not if music moves on and they don’t in a few years)... I think you’ll be hearing a lot more from them in the coming years.