Wednesday 21 February 2018

Wild Beasts. Eventim Hammersmith Apollo. Saturday 17th February 2018.

Tom Fleming and Hayden Thorpe hugged tightly on the dimly lit stage for the final time and waved back at a crowd giving them a thunderous ovation. Finishing a setlist of songs from every album in their canon; this was their lot.

The Hammersmith Apollo the scene for this farewell gathering; concluding a very brief tour to say goodbye.

Talk Talk "It's a Shame" rung out as one of the final songs before the lights went down. End Come Too Soon was the penultimate song in the set, and was even printed on a t-shirt. The band's self awareness added to the sense of occasion.

It was a heartfelt, glorious, rabble rousing show. The quartet played the gig of their lives. A choir struck up with Cheerio Chaps as the encore. Hearing the ridiculous lyric "...and then I belly flop" sung by a twenty strong choir was joyful, and a reminder of how much joy they've given.

You were awesome, Wild Beasts.

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