War On Drugs - Royal Albert Hall, London, 14/7/2024

  by Richard Lewis

published: 19 / 12 / 2024

Despite amplified music not being anywhere near invented when the Royal Albert Hall opened its doors in 1871, its architects unwittingly designed one of the greatest venues of all time. Almost sixty years since a solo Bob Dylan turned in a generational touchstone of a performance at the palatial venue, the Kensington address has lost none of its cache as a career pinnacle booking. The first time America’s Greatest Rock N’ Roll Band, The War on Drugs have trod the hallowed boards, two incendiary sardines-full performances at Mountford Hall in Liverpool earlier in the week have ensured they are match fit. The group’s dream-like evocation of Springsteen-esque heartland rock, psychedelia and Krautrock has seen them become the most acclaimed outfit to emerge from the US in the past fifteen years. Appearing onstage at the earlier than usual time of 8:45 makes perfect sense for an outfit whose sets play right up to the curfew. Brothers, chief Druggist Adam Granduciel’s touching tribute to former band member Kurt Vile and one of the 2010s greatest singles Baby Missiles supply a stunning opening one-two. Gorgeous downtempo elegies such as I Don’t Wanna Wait sit seamlessly next to rockers like Up All Night and the motoric thrum of Harmonia’s Dream, the latter’s homage to the Kosmische supergroup highlighting a key thread in their sonic tapestry. An absolute master of hold and release, Granduciel’s layering of the tracks in the studio translates perfectly to TWODs awesomely well-drilled seven-piece live band. Moving around the stage focussing the sound on the player he stands next to, the whoop that signals Red Eyes taking flight and An Ocean in Between the Waves reaching its apex prompt cheers from the audience. Adding to their stockpile of excellent live covers: Warren Zevon, George Harrison, The Waterboys, a barnstorming rendition of Tom Petty’s Love Is a Long Road leads into the entirely expected highlight, Under the Pressure. As the shoegazing guitar intro strikes up the entire venue rises to its feet and metronomic drummer Charlie Hall, his voluminous hair blown about wildly by electric fans takes the spotlight. The slow build to the track’s summit and its succeeding drop where the drums kick back in is truly euphoric, sending the crowd into raptures. Where lesser bands might have wrapped up the set at this point, concluding with a bellowed “Thank You! Goodnight!” and the house lights coming up, the septet plot a different course. The woozy cosmic country of In Reverse and an anthemic rendition of I Don’t Live Here Anymore follow, bringing proceedings to a close with the beautiful synth patinas of Thinking of a Place. While The Stones may still possess the sobriquet of The World’s Greatest Rock N’ Roll Band, with fifteen years on the clock since their debut album, don’t be surprised to see America’s current title holders eventually replace them.

Band Links:-

Play in YouTube:-