First. Ever. Live. Show.
It was a sell out. I got my ticket 10 months ago (it sold out not long after). Skip ahead 10 months and Oh Wonder are actually on stage, casting their cooling, hushed melodies over 350 highly receptive early adopters/probable Guardian readers. They even had their name up in lights...
So why is this confusing?
Oh Wonder as a 'band' had only ever existed online up until this point. Yet, here they are in front of me, playing polished, well crafted songs with the composure of seasoned performers (minus the odd 'oh my god, this is actually happening face'). Their music is great, and the choice of venue suitably artsy. The crowd, like Oh Wonder themselves, equally represent both genders. Yet everything feels wrong. It feels ordered. Intended. Planned.
There has been no organic evolution of sound. There has been no right of passage. Oh Wonder have made their debut firmly on the upward curve of career progression, and to date there has only been digital strategy. Bizarrely its worked. They have built a huge and loyal following by writing and releasing a track a month on Soundcloud. As a result, they even managed to sell out several massive London shows (including the Shepherds Bush Empire) before people had ever seen them play. They effectively self manufactured a non-manufactured band.
This is not to say the success is not well deserved. Oh Wonder have beautifully formulated their own highly likeable brand of hushed pop. Breathy, faux-meloncolic songs that play on the interplay and chemistry of harmonised and synchronised male and female vocals.
Oh Wonders' tracks build subtlety and gradually, but all the while feel too cool to indulge in euphoria and giddiness. Frosty and synthesised juxtaposition is often opted for to differentiate the verse from, as well as overstate the more conventional feel good highs found in their mellow choruses.
This is not to say Oh Wonder are purposely heartless, or their music cold and robotic. It is simply composed. Their feel good melodies are at times isolated, restrained, muted or slightly off-set and chilled out. Think 'new boring', and then more 'cool boring'. Need a metaphor? Imagine it's a scorching hot day and you're on your holidays. Now imagine poolside pop is embodied by that one cool kid who never gets flustered. Then imagine that same cool kid on a lilo floating atop the residual calming ripples and waves of a deep house cannonball.
Maybe just listen to them yourself? 'Technicolour beat' is a great introduction to this band:
https://m.soundcloud.com/ohwondermusic
Half way through the gig my buddy likened the atmosphere and performance to an early XX gig he was at. Once said, I couldn't help but feel he was probably right to draw the comparison. You intuitively know when you see something special. You become strangely aware of the events that are unfolding in front of you. You try to guess their significance. This band, and this evening, felt like the begging of something. Maybe they're the first of a new line of 'digital first' performers. Maybe how they started doesn't even matter, so long as good music always shines through. Irrespective, it's clear Oh Wonder are the complete package, and are only set to get better.
It's No Wonder their first gig was so special.
**Bonus observation:
If you stand at the back of an Oh Wonder gig, and are tall enough to see all the smart phones taking pictures, it looks like the crowd is pain. All you can see is 'OW' being displayed everywhere.
