Monday 13th April 2009 @ Thekla, Bristol
With Support From: Planet Earth

The first time I saw The Wave Pictures live, or indeed had ever even heard of them, was on this exact spot just over a year ago as they propped up the bill for a busy, busy night of Moshi Moshi bands. Tonight, they return in their own right as headliners with a new album to promote; the supporting having become the supported.

The early shift tonight went to a charming London 5-piece called Plant Earth and, David Attenborough jokes aside, they aren’t half bad, though these pretty adolescents look like they could burst into tears at any moment. Their set is peppered with simple, honest down to…erm…Earth folk-acousto ballads with subtle backing vocals and brass accompaniments and they charm everyone present by the time they get to their final song, Bristol And Back; a smash of a track with a deliciously hummable hook.

With the audience satisfyingly packed-in and warmed up, The Wave Pictures make their move and what’s immediately obvious since their last outing here, is that the band have really grown in confidence: What used to be nervous awkwardness between songs has been replaced with assertive, friendly banter and lead-man Dave Tattersall has really picked up the gift of the gab.

What The Wave Pictures have always had though, is a recognisable love of what they are doing (not to be sniffed at considering they’ve been together for over 10 years now) as well as the genuine quality of their charismatic indie-folk. We were treated to an impressive set of intricate melodies over swooping rhythms, affecting, honest, beautiful ballads and every now and again the sort of blood-curdling, brutal electric guitar solo that would make Dick Dale proud.

The Wave Pictures’ new found confidence was showcased wonderfully when they bravely reinvented their standout and best know track, Now You Are Pregnant, by breaking it down to its bare bones and putting drummer Jonny at the helm to sing lead vocals. This minimal reworking gave the song a much more affecting and deliciously fragile edge with Jonny’s coarser and slightly naïve vocals bringing new life to the track.

The stripped down treatment went down so well we were given another as an encore. After a chorus of hushes from the crowd so we could all hear their unamplified voices properly, a complete and enraptured silence descended. During this last, stunning song, the only other audible noise was the gentle clattering of barmen in distance packing up; it was the perfect way to close out the night. Same time next year then eh lads?

www.thewavepictures.com

Matthew Whittle www.matthewwhittleblog.blogspot.com