Photos: Wolf Alice at the Fonda Theatre

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Wolf Alice (Photo by Michelle Shiers)
Wolf Alice (Photo by Michelle Shiers)

North London’s Wolf Alice have been engaged in the massive undertaking that is “breaking America,” and now with the release of their debut full-length “My Love Is Cool” they are slowly making waves stateside. While attendance at the Fonda Theatre on Tuesday night wasn’t quite what it could have been, Wolf Alice still flawlessly delivered their youthful grungy narrative.

Opening their set with “Your Loves Whore” from “My Love Is Cool,” they moved through a 16-song set mainly from their album. Singer/guitarist Ellie Rowsell charmed the audience, especially the glitter-covered girls in the front row, with her blonde vulnerability that could shift quickly into sneering bitterness. Not only has Wolf Alice’s career been a slow build, but some of their songs also retain the sound of hormonal ’90s alt-rock building into indie-otherness — never to be pigeonholed.

Fans were excited to hear “Storms” from their 2014 EP “Creature Songs” as well as “90 Mile Beach” and “She” from their 2013 “Blush” EP. Their stage energy was both high and mysteriously understated — as if there was more brewing beneath their exteriors. They closed their main set with “Giant Peach” and returned for a three-song encore of “Turn To Dust”, “Blush” and their big sing-along hit “Moaning Lisa Smile.”

Wolf Alice were supported by New York’s “Made Violent” and Sheffield grunge-rockers Drenge who showed off their and muscular darkly-lit thrash and let loose enough to keep their heavy guitar vibes ringing in our ears.