Keeping a lid on the crowd tonight are California’s Teenage Wrist. Everyone here has clearly come to see Enter Shikari. People have made pilgrimages from all over the place. So rather than releasing a fair bit of the energy and excitement that is pulsing through the venue, Teenage Wrist bring their atmospheric, monumental style steady rock that, in certain tracks kicks and bites, in others is dreamy and smooth. They play their songs with passion, looking nice and interested, and sounding even better, but are content to keep the crowd nodding and build the anticipation with songs including ‘Dark Sky’, ‘Yellowbelly’ and ‘Still Love’. They are a clever and considered choice of support band. Teenage Wrist come across as being modest and genuinely thrilled to be opening for the juggernaut that is Enter Shikari. They engage the audience, entertain them and keep the tunes coming with maximum musical skill and minimum fuss.
Yes, Enter Shikari are phenomenal live musicians. Yes Rory, Chris and Rob spin and hit and play and pound with a controlled chaotic intensity making every single sound known to humankind, while illuminated by mesmerising images and hypnotic colours which make the Northern Lights look shoddy. But it’s Rou Reynolds you do yourself physical damage to see. Rou is the reason you’re gonna need to see a medical professional about that muscle you pulled trying to watch him dancing on the sound desk at the back of the Gliderdrome. And watching him stride, scurry, surf and climb across the stage and the crowd. The audience not only do as Rou says – they do as he does. ‘Do you know what would make me happy?’ he asks before dropping ‘{The Dreamer’s Hotel}’. Answer? People on people’s shoulders. Response? The pit goes from being one layer to two tiers. Crowd surfing (by Rou and fans) is expected, encouraged, and is gentle. Not only does the audience ensure surfers get safely over the barrier, but those behind it also respectfully get them back on their feet and into the pit once more. Religion/cult/therapy, call tonight what you will. Or maybe don’t. Because are there actually any words? Is it feelings? Emotions? Experiences? After a passionate speech on climate change Rou roars into ‘Arguing With Thermometers’ and the crowd scream lyrics, ‘We’ll take you down’ right back. Throughout the night there is pure emotion on Rou’s face. When the music softens, he too becomes smaller, but metaphorically he’s one of the biggest frontmen there is. ‘Dead Wood’ is massively moving – with a solitary Rou on keys, guitar slung around his neck. No one makes music like Enter Shikari. The utter adoration their fans have for them is palpable at this show – and it’s sent right back to them from these boys on the stage. The lyrics to penultimate song ‘Stop the Clocks’ hit hard at the Glider tonight – ‘I don’t ever want this to end’.
Review by Jo Wright
Photos by Gary Trueman