Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Wolf Alice live at The Turf Club

Ellie Rowsell's pedal pad
At work one day last year, I was listening to The Current on my earbuds and a song came on that I had to know who the band was. The song was Moaning Lisa Smile and the band was Wolf Alice. I told myself that I had to see them live if they ever came to town. I didn't know anything about them, but if Moaning Lisa Smile was their sound, they were my kind of band.

Looking into them over time I learned that they're from London, and are fronted by Ellie Rowsell with three blokes behind her. I like their sound as it reminds me of 90's grunge, despite the fact that every member was born in the 90's. They have a couple of EP's out with a full album, My Love is Cool, "dropping" June 23.

I was excited when I saw they were coming to town, playing a venue I'd never been to: The Turf Club. Tickets were only twelve bucks. First Avenue has been awesome to me the last two shows I saw there by reserving a stool for me to sit on. With MS my leg muscles fatigue after standing for about an hour. My legs turn to jello, making me lose my balance. First Ave also runs The Turf Club, and they were kind enough to save me a stool at the end of the bar.


I arrived at 7:40 and surveyed the intimate venue. The layout reminded me me of Five Corners, a bar in which I spent many hours, and dollars, in the 90's seeing Pat McCurdy. My stool was about as far as you can get from the stage, but still not bad. I took my position and ordered a Diet Coke for two bucks. Then I ordered a Juicy Lucy. The bartender asked if I wanted to run a tab. I asked if the sodas were $2 each, and he said he'd refill them for free. I tipped him well, and he kept my glass full all night. 

I am a Juicy Lucy connoisseur. My favorite is Matt's Jucy Lucy. Next is The Nook, and then 5-8 Club. The Turf Club's Lucy (served with kettle chips) is fair. It was what it's supposed to be, but if I eat there again I'll try something else. I ate it while watching The Wild on the TV behind the bar. At 8:30 sharp the opening band, Made Violent, took the stage. The bar turned off the TV.

They were a decent rock and roll band. The lead singer sounds like the singer for The Strokes. He did his best to fire up the crowd during their 30 minute set. I expected the bar to be a lot more full for the sold out show. There was a lot of room near the back. I hoped for the bar to flick the Wild game back on between sets, but they never did. I looked up the score after the show and saw that we're down in the series 0-3 now. 

At 9:30 Wolf Alice took the stage. They wasted no time rocking or rolling; Rowsell head banging along with her guitar from the first note. People crammed closer to the stage when the show started leaving even more room where I was. I watched the first few tunes from my stool, but then snaked my way as close to the stage as I could get with the bar behind me to lean on. 

I got pretty close. I don't think I was in the best acoustic spot, but I was happy with my position. The band got tighter and better as their 45-minute set stretched on.  Bassist Theo Ellis was fun to watch, jumping around, and leading the crowd in a clap to back up one song. The set got me stoked for the album in June. 

Grainy phone picture
They left the stage after their penultimate song for a 60 second break before the encore of Moaning Lisa Smile. I could actually see them standing in the stairwell waiting the one minute before running back up on stage. They cranked out their radio hit, and exited stage left for the night. I went back to my stool to swipe the "reserved" sign to hang in my cube at work. People filed out, and now with plenty of room in the club, I went to the stage to take a few pics; like the one of the pedal pad above. I was about to leave, and Rowsell walked past me on her way to the merch table. I told her "great show" and she genuinely thanked me in her English accent.

I followed her to the table, and there were about 20 people crowding around to buy a shirt for $15, or a CD for $5. The drummer was already there selling and signing merchandise. Rowsell started signing things and taking photos with people. I would have bought something for them to sign, but I spent my money on an okay burger. I had my "reserved" sign, and thought it was worth a try. 

As I waited in line, bassist Ellis came strolling up to the table. I shook his hand and asked if he'd mind signing my paper. Being a nice English fellow, he went backstage to get Sharpies (not knowing about the ones the rest of the band were already using) and came back and had every member sign my paper. I didn't want the autographs because I thought they might be worth money. I did it for whatever story I'd get out of it, and it's a good one. Nice guy. 



Wolf Alice is a band that is doing everything right. I was lucky to see them in such a small, cozy space. I guarantee that if they come back to Minnesota they will be in a larger venue with a more expensive ticket, and they won't be slinging their own merch. Wolf Alice has it. They're all in their early 20's, and age will make them an even stronger band, and presence, on stage.