On the 26th April, Nottingham’s own Wizards Can’t Be Lawyers settled in amidst the buzz of their Bodega headline show. With a stacked lineup of three equally tasty offerings, the evening was set to be a night of fun on all fronts. Alice Beard reviews.
All geared up to kick the night off came Zach Thrasher and band. Witnessing Zach armed with only an acoustic guitar and a microphone rather than two drumsticks felt a strange view, but a refreshing one nonetheless.  There was an honesty and concord offered up through the dulcet tones of the set, allowing the audience to slip back and bask in the warm glow of this intimate affair. With the provision of some rather Cameron Winter- esque vocals I felt at points as though I’d been transported off to a stripped back Geese gig. The entire set was littered with influences in fact, fragments of the likes of Guided by Voices, REM and Flyte glistening amidst a selection of already well- fed tracks. To tie everything up in a nice, neat bow came their cover of the Replacements’ Swingin Party, proving a cordial conclusion to the first of what I’m sure will be many more great gigs to come.
Next up and ready to inject some energy into the evening were Kez, a band hailing from Derby. In their own words this simple fact means I’m well within my rights to give them a hard time here, but I’ve chosen to refrain given the fact there really is nothing I can fault about their performance. A rumbling bassline paired with some biting guitar tones were all that was required to let the air hang loose with a palpable angst and urgency from the off. With each increasingly smooth and equally sarky lyric, Jamie Thrasivoulou merrily took the title of ‘punk- poet’ from John Cooper Clarke’s hands and threw a new spin on things. The sharp, acerbic wit in each track melted seamlessly into the groove of it all, the set proving strong from start to finish. Little more was required now to get the evening well and truly underway.
By the time Wizards Can’t Be Lawyers squeezed themselves onstage the room was heaving, both with bodies and an overhanging sense of fervent anticipation. From the very first notes of their set, it was clear the band were in their element. Blending essences of sixties surf rock, some healthy sprinklings of funk and appropriately mild levels of post- punk, there was fun for all the family. The set possessed instant swagger and conviction, all helped along of course by the masters behind the music. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, when it comes to this outfit there really is no such thing as too many cooks in the kitchen.
The set proved infectious from the get- go. Tracks such as Planets and Mercury Man provided tasteful little pockets of harmony which demanded attention. Everything felt so tightly wound. Nicely wrapped. Packed up in a lovely floral gift bag. Everything you wanted was there: forward driving percussion, blistering bass hooks and whatever magic was going on with the four guitars. Four guitars? Yes, you read that correctly. Any band who can make that work deserve all the praise they’re given. I can’t forget to mention the addition of accordion and violin mid-set either. The perfect accompaniment to an already gleaming performance.
The band’s latest single In the Hive was hot on the agenda, so when it finally took to the stage it did so with pure confidence and ease. It’s a thick and woozy track to begin with, and these qualities were only intensified in the heat of the live setting, its charm melting and trickling through the audience with a smooth glow. With so many instant crowd- pleasers like this on the bill it’s no wonder the room had reached boiling point by the close. The groove was irresistible.
There’s not much more I can say at this point that hasn’t already been said, but it’s safe to say WCBL are a band with an undeniable force and allure, and they know exactly what to do with it. With the strength of their music and fans alike, the band were able to march forth and surpass the bounds of pleasure. And of course, it wouldn’t be right not to acknowledge the fact Bodega’s four walls really did bring out the best in them. There’s no place like home.
Alice Beard
Edited by Alice Beard