LIVE REVIEW: The Vaccines
Review by Hattie Williams
Photos by SamWall @sams.photo.wall
The Vaccines weren’t just returning to the stage; they were revisiting the record that defined a generation of indie fans. Celebrating 15 years of “What Did You Expect from the Vaccines?” and for a night filled with nostalgia and triumph, it only made sense that Brigitte Calls Me Babystarted the night.
Originating from Chicago, Illinois, the80s-inspired new wave band are the love child ofMorrissey and The Cure. Wes Leavins stands out with his baritone vocals and theatrical stage presence, making the band feel less like a support act and more of a co-headline. They won the crowd over quickly with their sound, balancing melancholy lyrics with upbeat instrumentation. Songs build up gradually, often starting soft and playing into a fuller, more layered chorus. My favourites from their set were “I Wanna Die In The Suburbs”, which sounded like a missing song from ‘The Queen is Dead’ by the Smiths and “Slumber Party”, which can only compare to‘Curious’ by Franz Ferdinand. The Crowd started sceptical, but by the end of their set, there was a noticeable increase in applause and engagement. Brigitte Calls Me Baby is a genuine discovery for the audience.
As The Vaccines took to the stage, the crowd erupted, transforming Newcastle City Hall into a sea of voices ready to sing back every word of “Wreckin Bar (Ra Ra Ra)”. From the first chord, it felt like the gig never paused for a break. As the crowd became electric, a circle opened up in the crowd with everyone joining in. Dancing, singing, and chanting- what more could you want from an Indie gig? Early in the set, there is a swift emotional shift; the lights go down, and Justin sat at the back of the stage as the band played a stripped-back version of “Somebody Else’sChild”.
Although a large portion of the gig was the debut album played through. The Vaccines surprised us with an unreleased song called “Ten Years Too Far”, a description of the band's last few years in the form of a song. Sounding a lot like their early work, The Vaccines have circled back to their original sound. As excitement builds from hearing an unreleased track, the band prepares for their two-song encore of “Sometimes I Swear” and “All My Friends Are Falling In Love.”
By the time the final notes rang out, it was clear that The Vaccines delivered so much more than a performance, managing to balance nostalgia with a sense of ongoing relevance. As fans filtered out into the Newcastle night, lyrics and melodies echoed around. This gig will not be forgotten anytime soon