The Vaccines at the Hammersmith Apollo

The stylish West End-esque Hammersmith Apollo played host to the Vaccines this week. The English indie-rock band, formed in 2010, have a dedicated fan base, and the moshpit is thronging, the crowd jumping and screaming.

Lightsaber-style lights are displayed onstage, with the ones in the middle set up as Vs. The light show is in tune with the music, sometimes flashing along with the beat, with colours changing to reflect the emotional heightening of the songs. Steamy stage lights are used to create a visually compelling experience, whilst strobes elicit an exciting – if dizzying – feeling.

Lead singer Justin Young has an alluring, magnetic voice that actually sounds better in person, especially during Wetsuit and I Always Knew. He is charming, seductive and confidently engages the audience, some of whom get so excited they try to leap onto the stage and are escorted out of the venue! He has a tongue-in-cheek pizzazz about him, which makes his otherwise potentially cocky performance endearing. 

The Vaccine’s give a lively, engaging performance with upbeat, rocky songs like Teenage Icon, If You Wanna and Post-Breakup Sex. The material can feel a little homogenous after a while, but the catchy guitar riffs and distinctive, strong lead vocals keep the energy from getting stale and it’s a lot of fun to watch. El Paso, with a sadder, more reflective vibe, is a highlight of the show and is very likely to get stuck in listeners’ heads for days afterwards.

This may not be the most versatile setlist, but the Vaccines bring charisma, energy and strong lyrics for a very enjoyable night.

Sophia Moss
Photos: Virginie Viche

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

Watch the video for the single El Paso here: