Cramming as many people as you can into the Hug & Pint’s intimate concert venue, with delicious curry aromas wafting through the basement will leave them hungry like… well you know where I’m going with this. That hunger fuels the crowd’s anticipation, as the tight space buzzes with the hope that their decision to leave the nice, comfy bar with all the good food wasn’t in vain. A stellar opening performance from support act Silverroller makes it feel likely these hopes will be met. When DeWolff walk out with their Bee Gees cosplay and frantic grins, it becomes a certainty.
Immediately opening with jazzy fan-favourite ‘Night Train’ makes the whole room come alive with an energy that never gets a chance to fade. The band work seamlessly through the roster of their latest album, Love, Death & In Between, while the crowd dances as manically as the packed space will allow. Lead singer Pablo van de Poel grasps the room’s attention and never lets it go using his over-the-top staging, peculiar dance moves, and enigmatic charm. Pablo’s spotlight, however, is stolen frequently as drummer and brother Luka van de Poel steals the attention whenever he gets a chance to sing, while Hammond organ player (yes, that’s right, Hammond organ) Robin Piso flirts with genius and madness and frankly anyone who’ll let him.
With a band as peculiar as this one, it feels like you’re constantly on the verge of spilling over from a rock concert into a spoof. Sure, there are definitely moments where the whole thing comes across more like a Eurovision tribute act composed of 10-year-old kids who’ve seen Blues Brothers one too many times. But DeWolff make it work. Taking themselves seriously enough to vindicate the audience’s enthusiasm, whilst not so seriously as to encourage embarrassed eye-rolling, they allow the audience to let loose without feeling ridiculous. The true power of their eccentric charm is best summed up when Pablo asks the crowd if they are willing to hear a 20-minute encore and people don’t immediately leave. A decision that is justified when he dances his way up and down the compact space, in an eccentric yet uplifting finale that gets you smiling even after you hit the 12-minute mark.
For an act composed of some truly weird elements, DeWolff pack a powerful bite. The band offers the chance for a truly unique and enjoyable show for anyone not afraid to be a little bit cringe. However, I will say, if you choose to see them in the future, double-check the times of the night train.