There was enough rain in Phoenix on Saturday night that the Crescent Ballroom was left with puddles deep enough to seep into sneakers. More than an inch of rain fell, causing more than 30,000 power outages for Arizonans, according to abc15.com.
The rain was over by the 8 p.m. concert, but the downpour set the scene for the night’s show, headlining bands Wolf Gang and Sir Sly with opener Secret Someones.
“I brought the rain from the UK with me,” joked Wolf Gang’s lead singer, Max McElligott.
Secret Someones opened the show. The band is composed of three women and one male drummer, making for an original performance. All three women played instruments and sang in harmony from their debut EP, “I Won’t Follow.”
Their opening performance was a highlight of the night, giving off a female-empowerment vibe. The band opened for Ingrid Michaelson the last time they were in Arizona — so, unsurprisingly, their sound is like three Ingrid Michaelsons who traded in their pianos for electric guitars.
They covered Nirvana’s “Breed,” which with female vocals gives the song a powerful new sound and meaning. Their voices blended perfectly together in strong, catchy choruses in songs such as “I Won’t Follow” and “Chase Your Shadow,” yet they also featured each voice and shared the stage equally.
The first co-headliner to perform was the band Sir Sly, formed in 2012. The last time they performed at the Crescent Ballroom was in May 2013 — their first performance outside of their home state of California.
Their sound is comparable to Imagine Dragons, with synths, addicting hooks and dark lyrics. Their songs featured heavy drum tracks, creating a dark, resonating electronic sound loud enough for an arena. They performed their popular hits “Gold” and “Ghost” and held nothing back.
“Ghost” was stunning and sounded better than their recorded version. “Gold,” which was featured on a trailer for Assassin’s Creed IV, featured an intense buildup, with vocals starting out almost hushed and ascending to a passionate chorus. Their set was by far the best of the three in regards to pumping up the crowd, intensity and showmanship.
Hayden Coplen, drummer for Sir Sly, said being back at the Crescent Ballroom was nostalgic.
“It was the first time I really remember people who weren’t already fans reacted instantly and positively to the music, which is cool,” Coplen said.
Wolf Gang’s performance was the most subdued of all three bands, so the night ended on a softer note.
Overall, British alternative band Wolf Gang’s sound is more pop and sunshine. Their hit “The King and All of His Men” is an energetic song on the level of Swedish indie band Miike Snow. The sound was much more relaxed and funky than the other performances of the night.
Wolf Gang’s performance focused on McElligott’s ethereal vocals, which echoed through the venue. McElligott was engaged with the crowd, calling the audience to dance and thanking them for spending their Saturday night with the band.
Wolf Gang is best known for its first album, Suego Faults, which debuted in 2011. Their music has been featured on multiple Gossip Girl episodes and BBC productions. They also have a new album debuting in a month or two, McElligott said, though no specific date was given.
While originally a solo act, McElligott said his band’s new album features a more cohesive sound because of his band mates.
“It sounds more band-y,” McElligott said, noting there are more voices on the album, contributed by fellow band members.
Overall, the concert left me a fan of three new bands. Each had a different sound, but they all seemed to gel. None of the performances seemed particularly out of place. All three bands are signed to Cherrytree Records, and they generally had an upbeat rock vibe. Coincidence? Who knows. All I know is, it meshed surprisingly well, creating a great night of music — even if our sneakers did get a little wet.
Contact the author at ctrowbri@asu.edu. Contact the columnists at emily.liu@asu.edu and Oren.Simchy-Gross@asu.edu.
