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Review & Photos: The Vaccines @ The Hippodrome, Kingston [Live]

30th August, New Slang at The Hippodrome

by cfaruolo, September 13th, 2012 and has been Read 1449 times.
Last Edited by: Jack Stovin September 13th, 2012.

They've done it.

No matter how much the haters try to denigrate their accomplishments, The Vaccines came from a Monday night Barfly headliner to a Reading & Leeds mainstage attraction with a number one album in a bit more than a Year.

LISTEN // The Vaccines - 'Teenage Icon'

The fans support and their own ambition made them record a second album (Come Of Age released on the 3rd of September) while they were still in the crest of the wave generated by their exciting debut. And what's better than seeing these future stadium fillers in a mid sized venue in the outskirts of London? Well I can tell you that it doesn't really get much better than that.

A few seconds into the night-opener 'No Hope' and the plastic beer bottles started to fly for the surprised/scared eyes of guitar player Freddie, no one had time to finish their drinks so the contents were turning the stage into a slippery trap with the band avoiding obstacles Takeshi's Castle style. A sound tech came from the side with a roll of clean film and covered Freddie's pedals. Emergency partially over and that's how UK crowds say welcome.

Every single stair, balcony spot, table, and even bar was taken and you had to struggle to get a glimpse of the stage without getting dragged into the moshpit.

Justin's first interaction with the crowd during 'Wreckin' Bar' resulted in a sea of sweaty hands pulling him towards their side while screaming the lyrics of this chorus-less hymn, told you not to get too close Mr Young.

The group of fans dressed in wetsuits got their magic moment early in the set, but this night was all about the newbies. Balancing between the intriguing and stompy dark loops of 'Ghost Town' and 'Bad Mood' to the feel-good 'Change Of Heart Pt 2', the Telstar vibe of "I Always Knew" and the unexpected irony of 'I Wish I Was A Girl' The Vaccines told us their new stories of self awareness, frustration and irreverence, all composed and recorded in between tempestuous tour dates, and festival appearances.

"We love you Kingston!" screamed Justin, the in-between speech of the self proclaimed entertainer and presenter of the night was concise and precise. The new songs were so intense that they make crowd-favorites like 'Post Break-Up Sex' sound dull and predictable.

Last song. The venue exploded again and this time the crowd surfers met Justin halfway over the mass of hands cause he's ventured between the audience too. The 90 seconds of 'Norgaad' go by and as the band reaches the fence to say goodbye to the front row we all go home hoping that guitars stay at the top of the charts.