Live Review: Warpaint, Gabriella Cohen

Gabriella Cohen was an odd but satisfying choice for support. Her style of music is quite different with a bluesier, gentler approach to rock'n'roll, but there are plenty of local bands who would have fit the bill (Rag N' Bone and Nerve Quakes are both female-fronted acts that share a similar sound.) Although her set was thoroughly enjoyable, the crowd was restless with large groups talking loudly, nearly interrupting the band several times. On more than one occasion we spotted band members giving these groups death stares.

Warpaint entered in a wash of cold blue light and a giant cloud of fog that enveloped the stage. Their set was a mix of old songs and new, the four-piece jumping across their back catalogue and last year's LP in equal measure. Popular tracks early in the set included Heads Up and No Way Out.

The most amazing thing about these women is their vocal harmonies. Songs can include one, two or three vocalists, and they are always perfectly in harmony. They each get a chance to shine and then fall back together as a group. However, it would be impossible to catch Warpaint and not mention the rhythm section, with a huge drum sound that mixed electronic and acoustic sounds and incredible bass lines that added an irresistible danceability.

There was an expectation that Love Is To Die would be the final song of the night, however during Warpaint's quick encore (which they kicked into without leaving the stage) the crowd got a treated to New Song and Disco//Very.