Gig Review: The Wombats
The Wombats bring chaos and charm to a triumphant show
The O2 Arena can be an imposing venue, but for The Wombats, it feels like a second home.
Having performed for thousands of adoring fans in Nottingham the night before, they arrived in London with the same effortless confidence, blending sharp wit, commanding stage presence and sheer musical expertise.
This wasn’t just a greatest-hits spectacle. This was a celebration, weaving old favourites with highlights from their latest album, Oh! The Ocean, in a set that felt both polished and infectiously chaotic.
Opening with Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come, the trio set the tone for the night. The recorded version is knowingly nonchalant, but live, it took on a new energy, driven by frontman Matthew Murphy’s effortless vocal control and deft multi-tasking.
They managed to switch seamlessly between singing, keyboards and guitar. Tord Øverland Knudsen and Dan Haggis flanked him with tight harmonies and boundless energy, the three feeding off each other in a way that made the cavernous venue feel intimate.
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Fan favourites like Moving to New York, Cheetah Tongue and Techno Fan sent the crowd into a frenzy, while the sultry Kate Moss changed the mood entirely, offering a moment of contrast and showcasing the band’s range. The night’s true highlight, though, was Ready for the High, which leaned into The Wombats’ unique showmanship.
Their mascot (a human-sized wombat) stormed the stage, flamboyantly ‘performing’ a trombone solo in a knowing nod to the band’s eccentricity. The crowd lapped it up, and from that moment, the night tipped into full-blown party mode.
Few bands inspire mosh pits quite like The Wombats, and their London crowd was determined to make the floor shake. Kill the Director and Tokyo (Vampires and Wolves) had the O2 pulsating, but it was during Method to the Madness that multiple gaps formed in the audience, ready for the inevitable explosion of drums, bass and guitar.
The chaos didn’t subside even as the set drew to a close with Let’s Dance to Joy Division, a song that remains as much an anthem as ever.
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Returning for an encore of Can’t Say No, Turn, and the euphoric Greek Tragedy, the band closed the show in a whirlwind of confetti, balloons and streamers. The energy never wavered, a testament to their enduring appeal.
A Wombats gig is a rite of passage for any indie fan. With knowing nods to football, sharp British humour, and an undeniable knack for crafting festival-ready anthems, they remain one of the UK’s most reliably brilliant live acts. If their upcoming tour dates are anything like tonight, they’ll be unmissable.
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