Posted by Danni Le Toullec on May 31, 2011
It was somewhat surprising to find that WU LYF (World Unite/Lucifer Youth Foundation), a band that has firmly (if unintentionally) shrouded itself in mystery, play a very organised and structured set. Exactly on time, with no supporting act and one neat encore. As a band that recorded their debut in an abandoned church, this rigidness was most likely due to the structured timings of the organisers, Vivid Sydney, than the English lads themselves.
With LYF stitched into his denim jacket and a rough Mohawk shaved into his hair, Ellery Roberts' intense vocals were erratic and passionate; each note ripped out of his lungs in short bursts and scattered against a backdrop of Tom McClung’s effortless bass riffs. Although the lyrics were hard to understand, each band member obviously believes in every single word. Eyes squeezed shut, guitarist Evans Kati mouthed the words and drummer Joseph Manning was so into it, he lost his shirt only two songs in.
There may not have been tears, but blood and sweat definitely went into this performance. Halfway through their set, Roberts pointed out to McClung that he was bleeding above his temple. Looking bewildered, McClung said, “You made me bleed Sydney... but I like it!”
In their first Australian appearance for Vivid Live, WU LYF has so far resisted the typical current of up and coming bands. Refusing interviews until recently, they initially spoke through their website, proudly announcing: “We own everything. No record deal. No license. We own the rights to our recordings – the four baby boys of WU LYF. ”
Following their Vivid Sydney appearances, the boys will be heading back to the UK for a string of shows in June then onto festivals across Germany, France and Portugal. They will be releasing their debut album, ‘Go Tell Fire To The Mountain’ on 13th June 2011 on their own L Y F Recordings, the musical contingent of the Lucifer Youth Foundation.
wu lyf, vivid live, vivid sydney, sydney opera house