By Natalia Dewhurst, Culture Subeditor
Listening to Wild Rivers feels like stargazing on a road trip somewhere in the countryside. Their set at SWX is no different, as lights twinkle like stars, and the warm, soft hues look like the end of summer.
SWX is a spacious venue, but the Canadian band fill it effortlessly with the rich sound of two velvet voices and four guitars. The energy onstage transfers quickly to the packed audience, as they open with the energizing ‘Never Better’, an instant hit from their latest album of the same name.
Wild Rivers has a distinct sound, blending elements of country, indie and pop in a refreshing way.
They are defined by duets, with the vocals of Devan Glover and Khalid Yassein interweaving through each track seamlessly. Live, this sounds even better, and you can feel the harmonic chemistry of the two singers.
‘Wandering Child’ is a highlight of the evening. Khalid tells us that the song 'is all about taking a leap of faith and doing something crazy, like starting a band', and just watching them really does make you want to join a band.
The song starts hushed and soft. Suddenly, the first chorus brings a soulful explosion of sound and musical nostalgia.
Devan confirms the band’s cosy autumnal intentions for tonight. 'It’s Sunday night, it’s fall, it’s perfect brooding weather'. And she is right – everyone here is excited for some bittersweet, nostalgic tunes.
She tells us she wrote ‘Freezing’ the day she found out her ex got a new girlfriend. It’s a melancholy moment, with the lights turning blue. The room is completely silent but for Devan’s voice and a simple chord progression. Then, because it’s Wild Rivers, the drums and Khalid’s voice come in to back her up and create a richer, fuller sound.
The band is super fun and chatty, getting lots of laughs from the audience for their ironic commentaries. For Pulp Fiction fans, at one point they even transition into the riff from ‘Miserlou’ in an electrifying, crowd-pleasing highlight.
Next up is ‘Backfire’, a piano ballad from their new album. Devan moves onto the keys, a spotlight illuminating only her as the song builds up to an all-encompassing ballad. Backing vocals and instruments gradually join her. This is Wild Rivers at their most powerful. Then, the final line poignantly returns to her single voice.
The band welcomes us to 'phase two' of the night, 'the acoustical phase'. First up is ‘Neon Stars’, one of my favourites. Its bittersweet lyricism and the acoustic performance are beautiful in their simplicity.
The band tell us that the song will feature in an upcoming movie about two rival chicken shops. ‘Neon Stars’ will play as one of the chicken shops burns down. The image of a *literally* fried chicken shop will forever be what I imagine when I listen to the song.
‘Don’t’ is confessed as one of the band’s favourite songs. It’s about being the breaker-upper, a rare perspective for a break up song. One of the great parts of this gig is how they explain the story behind every track, performing the cutting lyrics with tactile emotion behind every line.
Section three of the gig is rock and roll. In ‘I Do’, the vocal acrobatics are flawless. Energy returns to the room after the mellow acoustic section, and everyone is clapping along. The drums come in strong and finish off with a very satisfyingly extended drum solo that held me captivated.
‘What Kind of Song’ is a 'choose your own adventure type song', Khalid tells us. It could be about love or a break up, the choice is ours (as the lyrics say, 'what kind of song will this be?').
It is a characteristically Wild Rivers performance, a feast for the ears that somehow lights up all your senses with its powerful instrumentals.
They end on ‘Thinking ‘Bout Love’, their biggest hit to date and the song we’ve anticipated all night. It’s the perfect end to the gig – ‘Thinking ‘Bout Love’ encompasses all the best things about Wild Rivers’ song writing. It’s a bop with a country twang and bittersweet lyrics.
To top off the night, my friend and I got a shout-out from the band, as Khalid noticed us very cringily making hearts with our hands (as is vital for any gig), and said, 'shout out to the girls doing this!', making a heart himself.
Delighted with ourselves and cheering the loudest amongst the crowd, Wild Rivers took their bows to a sea of well-deserved applause.
Featured Image: Sophie ScannellWho's your favourite folk band?
