It’s been almost a year since I started writing these reviews – since I saw Divorce support Willie J Healey on tour last November.
Tonight, I’m heading to Future Yard in Birkenhead to catch them on their autumn headline tour. I’ve been looking forward to this one for ages.
I arrive at quarter to eight and head towards the back room, the wristband I’ve just been given matching the bright pink that covers the walls.
Just after eight o’clock, Oscar Browne makes his way onto stage. He’s joined by Jack Slater Chandler, who takes a seat to Browne’s left and picks up his saxophone. Their sound is gorgeous, somewhere between Ben Howard and Midlake. After shocking us with the news that they’d been in a car accident just hours before, the two musicians pull off an incredible set and gain an entire room of new fans.
In the break, I quickly add a couple of the tracks I’ve just heard to my playlist.
I’d definitely recommend giving ‘Cut Me Off’ and ‘You and I’ a listen – I’ve had these two tracks on repeat recently. If Only is a fantastic EP.
Finally, the clock strikes nine.
Tiger Cohen-Towell, Felix Mackenzie-Barrow and Adam Peter Smith walk onto stage, Kasper Sandstrøm following closely behind. He’s wearing – I kid you not – a white Willie J Healey t-shirt.
The Nottingham four-piece kick off with ‘Gears’ – a driving track full of grungy guitars that sets the tone for the rest of the show.
The setlist is a mix of new and old, putting recent singles ‘All My Freaks’ and ‘My Room’ alongside more familiar favourites like ‘Scratch Your Metal’. Another classic Divorce track on the setlist tonight is ‘Birds’ – Mackenzie-Barrow seamlessly fits the word Birkenhead into the lyrics and earns himself a cheer from the crowd.
We’re also treated to a couple of unreleased tracks from their upcoming debut album, and ‘Antarctica’, their latest single, is one of them. This track tells me all I need to know: their alt/country roots are alive and well, but Divorce have obviously evolved as a band and honed their sound. Drive to Goldenhammer lands March 2025 and I can’t wait.
Divorce tell us a bit more about their new LP and someone in the crowd yells “play all of it”. Cohen-Towell’s response is a sarky yet effusive “not yet”.
The band then introduce the self-professed “country section” of the evening and head straight into ‘Eat My Words’. It’s a great track, but quickly overshadowed by what comes next.
Now, I mentioned in the other review that ‘Checking Out’ was my favourite Divorce tune, and my opinion hasn’t changed – it’s a theatrical and addictive powerhouse of a track, and Cohen-Towell’s vocals are unbelievable.
But seeing it live the second time round was a completely different experience. Tonight, the four musicians on stage are standing in front of 280 people who know all the lyrics and sing along with what can only be described as unadulterated glee.
You can almost chart Divorce’s trajectory by looking at the reaction to this track alone – and I think it’s more than fair to say that they are a band on the rise.
Call your lawyer, because one thing’s for sure – Divorce is inevitable.
Review by: Ayla Hewitt
Images credit: Ayla Hewitt
Follow Ayla on Insta: @aylagoestogigs @aylaratesalbums
