Words: Scott Reid
If you had told me there was a band out there who had their first US gig at Madison Square Garden,
had their album produced by The Who's Pete Townshend, and was on their first ever international
tour supporting the rock and roll legends KISS, I would just say that a band with such an impressive
resume so early in their career probably cannot live up to the hype. But boy, was I wrong!
The Wild Things, led by Sydney Rae White, who stars in the hit BBC show Uncle; have even had
their latest single Only Attraction debut on charts all over Europe, South America, and Japan. And
after seeing the group perform live, it pretty obvious why they have captured the attention of so
many.
My first encounter with The Wild Things was when they opened for and supported rock legends KISS.
Despite their early set time, they still managed to rock the stage as if the entire arena had come to
see them. Even though they only had a six-song set, they brought it.
From around 18:50, the arena slowly started to fill up as The Wild Things took the stage. However,
that didn't discourage the upcoming rockers. They kicked off their set with their song Loaded Gun
and immediately grabbed the attention of the crowd. I must say, they really rocked it, and even
dressed like they were straight out of Mad Max (which is definitely not a bad thing!). Sydney, in
particular, delivered an energy usually reserved for headlining acts. After the infectious and groovy
vibes of Loaded Gun, they seamlessly transitioned into Only Attraction.
Throughout their performance, they absolutely brought the energy. I can't think of a better way to
describe it. Despite being at the early stages of their career, The Wild Things commanded the stage
like veterans in the industry.
One of the standout moments for me was their song Paradise. Right from the start, it gave me that
nostalgic feeling of 90s rock like Guns N Roses, but when the chorus hit, it gave me strong Paramore
vibes at their prime. White's vocals definitely had that special quality that sends chills down your
spine. I kept having to remind myself that this was their first major tour and that they weren't
already an established band.
The only disappointment of the night was the length of their set, but please understand that this has
nothing to do with the band themselves. When you're supporting a big name like KISS, it is
understandable that you have to limit your song choices. But I couldn't help wanting more and
more! With the news of The Wild Things embarking on their UK tour, I am beyond excited to see
where they go next and what else they have in store for us. Despite their shorter set, they bring the
energy of a well-established band with a setlist that could easily last for hours. I can't wait to see
what the future holds for The Wild Things in the next few years.