Michael Prince took a trip down to Rescue Rooms to review The Wæve...
Despite my last review stating you should always watch the support band, tonight I missed them. So sorry Grain Mother.
So, I waited for The Wæve. I’ve seen both protagonists separately so I wondered what they might do tonight. I’d heard a little of their output a few months ago when I considered attending and liked what I heard.
It’s not the same as a live event though. Rose from The Pipettes teaming up with local lad from Spondon, Graham Coxon from Blur. Read about how in their bio. Rose dressed in a long velvet dress and Graham casually and comfortable.
Interrupting The Jam’s In the City as they came on stage, Graham said they could come back later if the audience wanted them to. They opened with the beautifully haunting folk-style All Along, followed by Over and Over, a song dripping with the charm and ease of a Sunday afternoon after a heavy Saturday night.
As they settled into the set, the chemistry between Rose and Graham was clear to see. The love was palpable, inescapable, and intense. As the night drew on, Rose relaxed and danced her way through a number of songs - intermittently standing or sitting, depending on which keyboard she was using. Graham multitasked on harmonica, sax, lute, and guitars.
The songs drifted between a soft folk to indie rock and lots in-between. This was mature yet innovative, drawing on their individual strengths and pulling each other over the edge into unknown territories, discovering new worlds in the process. Full band support including violins produced a smooth relaxing sound, and Rose introduced a couple of love songs.
The front row of the audience seemed to definitely be there to see Graham, but there were a mix of fans, and it was clear that Rose had her own fan club too. One or two of the songs definitely had a nod to Graham’s previous work whilst others illustrated Rose’s background. The night brought maturity and exploration, occasionally unsettling, but always intriguing. Let’s see where they take us next.
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