The Vaccines at Troxy

The Vaccines kick off their two sold-out nights at Troxy, entering the stage on the notes of Live and Let Die. Within seconds, they launch into the thumping Love to Walk Away from their fourth album Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations, which dropped last month, and this track already sounds like a bombastic intro. Frontman Justin Hayward-Young needs only to lift an arm to elicit a roaring welcome from the crowd. His laid-back demeanour proves magnetic as he maintains direct eye contact with fans he spots throughout the gig – a simple and effective approach that makes everyone feel part of the party. The Vaccines’s hits don’t linger too long, most running under three minutes, allowing them to pack a significant number of songs into the setlist, with minimal talking in between. Wreckin’ Bar tops them all: an energetic 80 seconds of irresistible rock.

Hayward-Young eventually takes the sunglasses off for Post Break-Up Sex, one of the quartet’s most famous numbers and among the oldest, as the lead singer routinely points out at every live performance. He delivers the matter-of-fact lyrics with slack and fluid strolls. Wetsuit‘s “cause time gets harder to outrun” lulls the audience soothingly. The concert buzzes with excitement, mixing fresh pop releases such as Discount de Kooning (Last One Standing) and The Dreamer with tracks from their earlier repertoire like Headphones Baby, which the frontman enacts centre stage, impersonating an actor seeking inspiration by looking towards the back of the room. Bassist Árni Árnason is a standout as he plucks the instrument with gusto, his quiff bouncing rhythmically. And that’s particularly true in Jump Off the Top, the ultimate hopping song. I Always Knew carries a hint of slow country influence, a brisk ballad ramping up to I You Wanna, whose chorus leaves the singer almost breathless and gets the concertgoers to bounce in sync.

For the encore, the band proposes a couple of hits from the latest record: Sometimes, I Swear and Lunar Eclipse, both probing themes of self-discovery and life’s journeys, and showcasing, not only pulsating scores but also finely-honed lyrics that resonate with many. The send-off on All My Friends Are Falling in Love is as irresistible as ever.

Entertaining musings, effortlessly blending fun and relatability, The Vaccine’s music creates a totally enjoyable gig experience, presented with just a pinch of deserved swagger. Yet, one question still endures in this reviewer’s mind: will the flowers embellishing the mics, like with the drumsticks, ever be tossed into the hands of the fans?

Cristiana Ferrauti
Photos: Virginie Viche

For further information and future events visit The Vaccines’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Love to Walk Away here: