Scenestar

ARTICLE BY TIFFANY LI
PHOTOS BY DREW REYNOLDS

SEPT. 2 | ECHO PARK—“Tales of girls and boys and marsupials” might seem like an odd anthem to some. But when it’s sung repeatedly in harmonizing acoustic barbershop drawl, it somehow provides the perfect introduction to an equally offbeat, but satisfying performance by British indie rock band The Wombats, who were here at the Echoplex tonight.

The trio played enthusiastically, with all the sweaty earnestness of youth. Though the band’s origins lie in Liverpool, their first albums were released in Japan, the title of one providing the opening anthem. Following a successful album release in their native soil, The Wombats toured stateside to promote their first U.S. self-titled EP.

The Wombats performed all the songs on that EP as well as many others, displaying remarkably high energy and a carefree spirit. At one point, an amp started picking up a local Mexican radio station. The band went with it, going on with the show unfazed and cracking jokes. “Great that we can do a gig and get a Spanish lesson at the same time,” singer Matthew Murphy remarked. At another point in the show, they started telling banjo jokes.

High-kicking and jumping their way through the set, the band played such hits as “Kill the Director” and “Moving to New York,” especially excelling when performing active, beat-driven songs. Special kudos should go to drummer Dan Haggis, who kept the beat steady and strong. Interestingly, the rock songs have more of an impact live than their recorded versions, which is always a good sign for any band. New song “My Circuitboard City” is harder than some of the older material; it’s more rock and less indie, but still very clearly fitting The Wombats’ eccentric style.

The slower songs were received with mixed results. “Party in a Forest (Where’s Laura?)” sounds like any other angsty teen ballad, and “Patricia the Stripper” was just too long, over-emphasizing Murphy’s habit of drawing out every note to the extreme. Regardless, the show produced few lags in audience enjoyment, as fans sang along and asked about the band’s absent mascot, stuffed wombat Cherub.

Cherub, it turns out, was residing in bassist Tord Øverland-Knudsen’s native Norway. But regardless, The Wombats were here tonight in full force, and their music is definitely here to stay, even though this show eventually had to end.

For more photos of this show, visit The Scenestar photo gallery.