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It’s been two years since Weave released their debut EP Plunge, so you could say it’s been a long time between drinks. Not content to fade into the shadows after heading down a rocky road by losing a founding member and bass player, Weave jumped back on the indie-rock horse and tried to get back into the swing of things. It took a while, but after recruiting new bass man, Nick Maskell, they got themselves going again and tried a new approach on for size.
The following 18 months saw Nick being broken into the Weave groove, while they all came to grips with Wes Davidson’s adoption of electric guitar. Weave have finally graduated from acoustic sweetness to take part in the rock requirement of amplification.
For so long, Weave put off the incorporation of electric guitars into their sound. Now that they’re plugged in, their sound has taken on a third dimension. It’s big, it’s beefy and it’s bold. It gives them a little more edge and a lot more punch.
Weave go all out tonight with the stage lights, smoke machines and sparkling silver backdrops. The band really respond to the energy being thrown around by the audience. It's a reciprocal relationship, as Weave rock out on stage, the audience carves it up on the dance floor.
Even though they’ve adopted a rock stance, Weave prove they are still adept at quieter tunes. Sauntering through a country version of “Not Goodbye Now”, Kristy Wilson is simply gorgeous on vocals and perfects a blend of strength and sweetness for this tune, and the reworked “Coffee”.
Not ones to follow the crowd, Weave have been known to include some interesting choices for covers in their sets. A few years ago they regularly butchered the Play School theme song and made it their own. They even do a jumpy vamped up version of Buddy Holly's "Every Day". Seeing as it's a special occasion, Weave go all out and revive some late 80's cock rock with the Escape Club's "Wild Wild West". The crowd respond appropriately with some wicked ass-shaking and rapturous applause.
Normally prone to pointless but quirky ramblings between songs, Wes Davidson is unusually quiet tonight, but he more than makes up for it with the effort he puts in on lead vocals and guitar. He's strong and "rock steady", just like his shirt says. He's obviously having fun, and feeding off the audience who are really getting into the Weave groove.
Tonight we get not one, but two renditions of the title track from the new EP. Firstly, Kristy changes the tone of the evening with a karaoke version of the dinky tune, complete with cheesy choreographed dance moves and backing vocalist divas. Then finally, Weave finish of the set with the closer to reality version, and rock out playing it loud and proud.
Chris Rostron on drums is a bundle of energy, taking his excitement to the limit, bashing out the tunes with gusto and grunt. At the conclusion of the Weave set, we can’t even get rid of him as he and Maskell engage in a bit of rock piggery and continue playing while the drum kit is dismantled around them. It’s a freestyle improvised groove session as the pair funk it up and everyone continues boogying on the dance floor.
Premiering several new songs tonight, Weave have sparked up the humour and are firing with fully loaded guns. They have an intoxicating energy about them and a sense of melody second to none. Weave are deliciously good and incredibly addictive.
