The Wandering Step - London Barfly @ Monarch - 8/8/02
3/5
By: Toby L
Set-List 'Shout & Shout Back', 'I Want To Go To Reykjavik', 'Angel Heap', 'Get Up, Brake Down', 'Death Of Love', 'Don't Try To Fight Us', 'Don't Be Afraid Of Love', 'Step Closer', 'Feel The Force Of This Band'.
The Wandering Step mark a new breed of guitar-pundits; indeed, flesh together the minor-chords and frantic strumming of The Strokes, along with the perky lyrics of pre-pubescent teenagers (take the somewhat naοve line 'I wanna be the boy you're dreamin' of', for example, as uttered at one instance during tonight's set), and you've got Preston's answer to the 'it'-NYC acts currently reaping press-attention and cash from students' back-pockets.
And from Preston?
Yes - well, nothing could be more apt for The WS, as it happens. Boarding tonight's stage with all the confidence of a stutter-ridden Gareth Gates, they spend at least three minutes staring around peevishly and attempting to tune their instruments. And when the guitars still don't sound right, they internally declare to themselves, 'F**k it,' and rocket tumultuously into sound within the trashy cuteness of 'Shout & Shout Back'. The ensuing round of hearty applause - mostly delivered by curious industry-types and the band's own posse of loyal troopers - gives 'em enough cockiness to belt into upcoming Deltasonic single 'I Want To Go To Reykjavik' with all the dizzy excitement and rigid eccentricity that its recent radio-plays have suggested it capable of.
Then it hits you: just what the charm of this group is down to. Geekiness. They wear tight T-shirts. They prefer the option of snazzy, black glasses-frames over contact-lenses. And the lead-singer resembles the type of guy that spent more time trying to get his A-level coursework in on time rather than getting laid at the weekends. But, you know what? It's all right - and it works well to form their undeniably quirky appeal, their past of a mere three or four gigs not tainting the quality of their buzzy, hyped-up indie-anthems in waiting.
By the time the foursome freakishly blast through to the closers of the set, the pace quickens, as does the rate at which frontman/guitarist Dan manages to deliver his frenzied lyrics, the final and fittingly-named 'Feel The Force Of This Band' rousingly rounding things off to a tee, with bassist Jon leaving the stage before the song has a chance to die down.
Sure, it's still early days yet - a support-tour or two will provide the act with good stead and an even sturdier performance in good time - but, 'til then - despite the venue's backdrop this evening reading 'The Bandwagon' - there's just enough potential on show to suggest that The Wandering Step are jumping on-board anything other than such a device.
Artists in this article: The Wandering Step
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment