Seraphina Lotkhamnga on April 14th, 2012

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Who: WU LYF inside the Mojave tent.
In 3 or Fewer Words: Say what?
Memorable Because: Deciphering what lead vocalist Ellery Roberts is saying at all is simply hilarious. As I walked through the crowd during the first couple of tunes by this Manchester “heavy pop” rock band, a couple’s conversation I overheard basically summed up a WU LYF set: “What did he just say?” “I have no clue.” While Roberts has an intense Tom Waits vibe going on in his tone, the growl and snarl (which drastically warps his communication) provides an odd form of entertainment instead of an annoyance. Of course, their wildly chaotic songs are part of the fun, too. With Roberts’ theatrical delivery of songs such as”14 Crowns For Me & Your Friends” and the post-punk guitars and festival-stomping percussion brewing underneath, WU LYF’s set was outrageous from beginning to end even when silly grunts and talk about being “bros” with everyone were inserted in between songs. There wasn’t much about their set that was satanic but for a band whose acronym stands for World Unite! Lucifer Youth Foundation, there was an irresistibly delicious impurity to it all.
What I’d Tell My Friends Who Were at Madness: No skanking here, I bet the jokes and tunes were far superior.
– S.L. (Photo by S.L.)