”I spent this year as a ghost and I’m not sure what I’m looking for, a voice on a phone that you rarely answer anymore.”
Photography by Jahla Fisher on the 16th January 2025, please contact Jahla prior to any use.
In the incredible building that is Albert Hall with its gorgeous features, layered seating, stained-glass windows, it set the scene for The Wonder Years to play their Album “No Closer To Heaven” in full along with other stellar tracks from their discography. They brought along Gully Boys and Free Throw to support on all 4 dates, and boy was it a gig you’d regret to miss out on.
Gully Boys
First up on the bill, a glorious four-piece grunge power pop band from Minneapolis, USA. This is their first time in the UK but Kathy Callahan (guitar, vocals), definitely knows how to get the crowd warmed up. Powerful performance, striking outfits and an edgy sound. Putting in a deeply impressive performance, that captured the room, the excitement amongst the crowd certainly added to the energy of their performance. They’re one we’d love to see back in the United Kingdom, and are certainly ones to keep an eye going forward.
Free Throw
Free Throw went straight into it opening up with their high energy track “The Corners Dilemma”, a song powerful with themes about having anxiety in rooms full of people – which doesn’t show during their performance in front of 1900 people at Albert Hall. Cory Castro (Vocals, Guitar) always brings the passion with every note, the passion for mid west emo, his real emotion is felt in every song.
They came through with songs off one of their oldest Albums “Those Days Are Gone”, which I really didn’t expect them to play but again was blown away. They performed “Pallet Town”, which is 3 minutes and a half of mid west genius, the crowd was captivated through their whole performance, screaming their lyrics back to them, crowd surfers were in full force in a very packed but amazing crowd.
The Wonder Years
The Wonder Years are a band who have always held a special place in the hearts of many, always being a band who have worn their hearts on their sleeve, and channel led that through their emotive blend of pop-punk and emo. Celebrating their landmark mark, No Closer To Heaven, it was certainly set to be a special one for those who had packed out the room.
Playing through the likes of “You In January” and “Passing Through a Screen Door”, which is a personal favourite track from the record The Greatest Generation, it all made for an emotionally charged night. After playing for nearly two hours, there was a slight break, which is understandable giving the amount of emotionally vulnerable and high energy songs they were playing.
Ending with an emotional closing – ending on my ultimate favourite TWY song “Came Out Swinging” from their album Suburbia I’ve Given You All and Now I’m Nothing – the whole crowd on both levels jumping to this, everyone came away with the same fulfilled feeling after seeing them live for probably the last time touring the UK, if the rumours are to be believed. For now though, it’s best we simply bask in how glorious this set from The Wonder Years was.