THE WOMBATS @ KENTISH TOWN FORUM, LONDON 18/11/08

The Wombats are back, and it's a jungle in here. Having played three London nights in a row, the Liverpudlian trio jump onto the expansive stage in Kentish Town's Forum with as much energy as ever and the crowd can only reciprocate.
They open with rhythmic, bouncy 'Boys and Girls and Marsupials', their infamous acapella number. The three lads stand around each other clapping and singing, instrument-less, in perfect synchronization. Of course, this is nothing new. They have only started with this exact routine in say, every single other show they have ever performed. Yet the crowd is raging for more, and the Wombats deliver it with perfection.

Every tune is a joyous bliss and I can barely collect my thoughts as I am deafened by the screaming teenagers all around me. The venue is not solely packed by the usual stampede of fourteen year old girls in band t-shirts and mini skirts, but surprisingly there are many older people standing around. Is it the media? The press? Or have this band finally tugged the heartstrings of the middle aged businessmen around us? Somehow, I doubt the latter and ponder about these mysterious men.

The Wombats play from their one and only album, mixing up the track order and throwing in one new tune. The new melody sounds hopeful, even happier and poppier than most of the album songs, it seems. It is a Christmas song, named 'Is this Christmas'. It's an indielicious and humorous single, fittingly released at this festive time of year.

The show ends with the trademark massive inflatable, sunglass-clad rubber Wombat appearing on stage. No joke. Picture phones snap up this extraordinary wonder, but again; it's nothing new.

The Wombats perform the same show they have performed again and again every time they have played in the past year or so. While new material sounds promising, it would be great to see the Wombats disappear for a while. I'm not saying we're sick of them, the hall is packed with fans who are all loving it, but perhaps a little hibernation and a huge comeback next year would add a little spark to the band that has warmed our hearts this winter, and all throughout 2008.

By Jorja Hudson
Photo by Leslie Kalohi (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nevercoolinschool)

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