Wunderhorse Are Champions of Youth Rock, Who Knows How Far This Can Go?

★★★★★ (5/5)

WUNDERHORSE PERFORMING AT NEWCASTLE’S NX
PHOTOCREDIT: JOHN HAYHURST

2nd visit in just under a month to the NX in Newcastle, but tonight you cannot move around the venue at all, the fans were all the way down the street and people were queuing early, and young people too – for a rock band!

In some way, which I’m not totally sure how, Wunderhorse have galvanised the 16-25 year olds into liking rock guitar music again. Their 1st album ‘Cub’ has not left my top 5 album list for 2 years and ‘Midas’ (2nd album released this summer) has just joined it. However, I’m in my late fifties and have experienced plenty of Punk, Post Punk, Heavy Metal, Thrash, Grunge and all the other genres, and I believe I know a good band when I see one. For some of the punters here, it could be their first gig, and to them Wunderhorse are an epiphany, it’s their Nirvana or Radiohead tonight and boy do they worship them. Doors open and the first people in the queue run like they are possessed to get the favoured front row spot on the rail, there is one girl from Paris who has been to all the shows on this tour, and a few others that have seen multiple dates.

‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ is played and everyone is joining in like it’s the new National Anthem, then their walk on music is Beck’s ‘Loser’ which is a more difficult one to sing along to, other than the chorus, and when that kicks in Wunderhorse walk out on stage like they mean serious business. Lead singer and guitarist Jacob Slater is the last to emerge, wearing his now trademarked shades, slacker faded black shirt and baggy corduroys. He says one word “Midas” and they power into the title track of the new album, there is a gust of warm wind as the crowd surge to the front and arms are aloft, some are on shoulders and everyone is shouting the lyrics. I’ve got earplugs in and I’m taking photos and I can still hear them singing.

Following that immediately with the opening track of ‘Cub’ which is ‘Butterflies’ a beautiful lilting Radiohead like song (‘Bends’ era). Then a trio of ‘Midas’ cuts ‘Emily’, ‘Girl’ and ‘Cathedrals’, the most noticeable thing is that everyone knows all the words to these songs that have only been out for 3 months at the most, unimaginable for most established rock bands to have that kind of following.

Very little is spoken in-between to the crowd other than a “thank you for coming” preferring to just give their all during the music, every sinew of Slaters body is screaming in unison with the crowd. I can’t imagine his primal screaming will do anything for his vocal chords long term, so maybe he keeps the talking to a minimum just in case.

A teasing extended guitar intro for ‘Leader of the Pack’ where they are effectively jamming before the catchy opening riff is reassuringly given back. This is a tight performance honed not just over these recent dates but several years of live playing. I first saw them in May 2022 at a mini festival (Get Together) in Sheffield and you could tell then that they were something special, a little different from the classic indie lads bands, they were musicians and were not interested in haircuts or fancy clothes, there was a passion and energy in their songs not seen for years.

The stage turns a violent shade of ‘Purple’ and the loudest sing-along to “Hey, Scarlet, there's a home for you here in my heart” and the multitude of “Yeah Yeah Yeah’s” at the end. Almost bringing a tear to the eye to see people screaming the lyrics like it’s their last breath, this band are heading places, this is the last night of the tour and the whole thing was sold out, they will not be playing these venues again. I was hoping Sam Fender might have joined them at the end as he is taking them as support for his arena shows in December, sadly it didn’t happen.

Wunderhorse did not leave anything behind, they gave their all at every show and ‘Purple’ and ‘Teal’ (encore) were everything tonight. That is probably the best gig of 2024 I’ve witnessed.

For those daring to look beyond the plain appearance there are some dark lyrics of self destruction and emotional stories of heartache to match the raw guitar noise and screaming choruses. I’m just gobsmacked and incredibly pleased that it’s a younger generation that have picked up on them. Rock is not dead (Sorry Gene Simmons!)

For several people here this was their “did you see them” moment, as I can only predict that this band are set to get bigger and I’m not sure where this will end.