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Review: We Are Scientists at The Joiners

Review: We Are Scientists at The Joiners

To help celebrate the Joiners’ 50th anniversary We Are Scientists offered a rare chance for fans to catch the band at such an intimate venue. The gig sold out in a number of hours and those lucky enough to grab tickets enjoyed a set showcasing many of the band’s classics as well as a couple of new ones from their upcoming 6th studio album ‘Megaplex’.

Right from the start of the night a sense of celebration is quite evidently in the air. Support band Lottery Winners have recently signed a record deal with major label Warner Bros – which news they excitedly share with us – and their infectious brand of fuzzy power pop wins the crowd over from the off.

We Are Scientists at the Joiners. Taken by Russell Leggatt
We Are Scientists at the Joiners. Taken by Russell Leggatt

However, it is of course We are Scientists that people are here to see and walking out to the strains of Foreigner‘s’ ‘I want to know what love is’ and a sea of dry ice the stage is literally set for a band who have been winning over music fans with their infectious brand of rock and on-stage charisma for over a decade now. Far from relying on the old classics though the band begin the set with new song ‘Your Light has Changed’ which is embraced as keenly as any of the old faithfuls. A punchy ‘The Great Escape’ is next whilst the band blitz through a fantastically fuzzed up ‘Buckle’. ‘It’s a Hit’, from debut album With Love and Squalor, still sounds as spikey and fresh as it did back in the day and this is closely followed by crowd favourite ‘After Hours’. However, it’s a new song – ‘No Wait at Five Leaves’ – that is perhaps the show’s highlight. Its instant sing-along chorus reminds me of blue album era Weezer in places and is embraced by the crowd from the off. A true classic in waiting.

A new song – ‘No Wait at Five Leaves’ – is perhaps the show’s highlight. Its instant sing-along chorus reminds me of blue album era Weezer in places and is embraced by the crowd from the off. A true classic in waiting.

We Are Scientists at the Joiners. Taken by Russell Leggatt
We Are Scientists at the Joiners. Taken by Russell Leggatt
We Are Scientists at the Joiners. Taken by Russell Leggatt

It’s been nearly thirteen years since the band last graced the Joiners stage and tonight’s show is the first night of a 57 date international tour. The 200 capacity venue will most certainly be the band’s smallest show and it’s testamant to the power this venue still holds for touring bands that the band are back to help celebrate. “It’s venues like this that are key for bands trying to make it over in the UK” says bassist Chris Cain halfway through tonight’s show. “If it didn’t exist, we’d have soon be boarding the plane back to New York so thank you Joiners.”

Thank you indeed to one of the UK’s, let alone the South coasts, most iconic and important venues. Here’s to another 50 years!

We Are Scientists at the Joiners. Taken by Russell Leggatt
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