Swapping the hills of Monterrey for the Forest Fields, Nottingham was The Warning’s first stop on their UK tour. They’re proving that the formula for good ol’ rock music doesn’t have to change as long as it keeps sounding fresh in a live setting. Welcome…
THE WARNING
Our British summers are classically short and sweet, yet Talbot Street is dazzling under that Mexican heat this evening. The Villarreal Vélez sister trio have hopped back over the waters for their second European tour this year; the old-school city of rock couldn’t have been a more apt place for the new school of rock stars.
Place your bets now on this band headlining our stage soon because Dead Pony is on the homestretch with their unapologetically, raw rock sound. A natural buoyancy that challenges the audience to drown their toe-tapping inclinations, the unprompted mosh pit at the start of their set is our first ‘warning’ of the night ahead.
Unscripted genuineness is the new rock ‘n’ roll debauchery. The crowd bursts into chants of “Ooolé! Olé! Olé!” throughout the interval. Each instrument that the roadies test is greeted by a hoot and a roar. We’re singlehandedly ‘killing the silence’ before The Warning take to the stage and opening number S!CK has time to infiltrate the speakers. It’s parasitic with a plosive chorus and jagged guitar twangs – so much so that singer and lead guitarist Daniela sustains an injury. “I got too excited I think I pulled a muscle in my neck,” She chuckles, nursing a heat pack that doesn’t stray too far for the rest of the set. “We’ll put a little heat on it. You think you guys need warming up too?”
CHOKE is an emotionally charged catalyst, Daniela bestowing the microphone upon the crowd to cover the first verse. Anthemic in nature, when she does rejoin for the chorus it’s with soaring effect. Bassist Alejandra prowls the stage with languidness, subtle in her plectrum grandiose during Qué Más Quieres. The Spanish song proudly boasts that it can resonate with fans regardless of what language it is in.
“It’s crazy to see a room full of people on the other side of the world! Rocking out to our music?! You mean the world to us.”
We are more than Satisfied by their sold-out show, the track taunting us with its heavy crunch of a bassline to groove around the pit. It seems to do the trick: when the drums come rolling in like a mystified sea and settle upon the crowd, we’re bouncing against one another. An ironic motif but MONEY garners the loudest cheer of the night. With that ‘ka-ching!’ echoing like a toll bell, it’s fascinating to watch the sisters inhabit the stage with such grace and grandeur. Perhaps money really does buy happiness?
For these two hours, that joie de vivre only found under the spotlights and within the beer-soaked floorboards truly has been money well spent. Taking the time to introduce the rest of the band, this is the only respite we have from our sweat-soaked inebriations. Each member is greeted with a prolonged applause – as if we haven’t been hollering our appreciation out all night – and it’s a lovely moment of connection.
“It’s our first time ever in Nottingham and oh my god – look at this! Hopefully it’s our first of many more to come!”
That opening song may have been foreshadowing more than just a pulled muscle, for Paulina is unable to cover the vocals for encore song Narcisista. She’s nursing a fever on the road, yet we’re still feverish for more. Distorted riffage; tempo changes plundered and pillaged. The Warning’s nuanced musicality has very much evolved over their years as a band. Call it on the nose for EVOLVE to be the closing number, yet that sobering scream couldn’t have been more heartfelt. You walk away from a gig like this knowing that the future of rock and roll is in safe hands.
THE WARNING PERFORMED SUNDAY 21ST JULY
WORDS: TALIA ROBINSON
ROCK CITY NOTTINGHAM
We’re not only Nottingham’s favourite venue and nightclub – we’re the UK’s best live venue with a rich history of performers that have played here. The Warning absolutely rocked the house down. Muchas gracias!
Also while you’re at it, why not check out our gig guide and see if any other of your favourite artists like Lucy Spraggan are playing soon! We also have our club nights on a Thursday (Tuned), Friday (Get Lucky) and Saturday (Rebel Rebel) so check those out too!
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