In their glory days, the original members of The Wanted would have been seen belting out notes in big arenas. This Thursday’s relaunch of The Wanted (now 2.0) with Max George and Siva Kaneswaran at Concorde 2 in Brighton brought the nostalgia of the early 2010s back to the stage.
No doubt about it, Tom Parker passing away in 2022 from a brain tumour shook fans big time. Even now, the reformed band holds dear the memories of their late member, famous for his unforgettable entrances.
Their performance was nothing short of an emotional retrospective, with Max and Siva feeling devastated at not being able to share this ‘beautiful’ moment with Tom.
The show kicks off with glitchy visuals flashing snippets of their famous music videos, while a greatest-hits mix plays with a heavy layer of tape saturation. Although the humming of an electric guitar adds a sense of mystery to their debut, the real eye-opener is seeing a father and his 14-year-old daughter cavorting together as the show goes on.
Elated crowds cheer for their music idols with ovations after Lightning hit the speakers, leaving the lead singers awash in hues of blue. Layered over with beam lights, Siva’s nasal resonance vibrates throughout. But when Max’s impeccable pitch control delightfully synchronised, it suddenly became clear why there was a music band in the first place.
Somewhere midway through the show, there are stage interactions. Posters saying, ‘Max I want to be your heart vacancy girl!,’ would get picked up. Shortly after, two winners — one from Argentina and another from Brighton — were announced. For both, winning the competition to perform alongside their heroes was a dream come true.
Sadly for the female die-hard fans, both singers appear to have a certain chemistry between them. Whether it is the Brighton effect or genuine affection for each other, their mutual interactions in between their playlist feel like an interplay of a closeted couple afraid to come out.
Not all fans are as polite as the majority. Whenever there is a drink involved, bad manners are the enemy of the crowd. A group of ladies in their late 30s continuously jumps in on the duo’s speeches, causing everyone to turn their heads 180. We all love the song, Glad You Came Karen, but could we enjoy ourselves in the presence of the band? As if.
Impropriety aside, when the War Zone blasts out, Siva’s rich range amplifies. Just as flames vigorously dance across the LED screen, so are the emotional chills enveloping the room with his voice. Evoking intense energy within the depths of one’s heart, the blazing artistic projection is casting a love-binding spell. Lower tones may not be his strongest forte, but Siva’s upper-middle register is a cut above.
The karaoke session steals the show. The moment Walks Like Rihanna starts playing, even the most demure embrace the fun. Having the lyrics displayed right in front of you takes away the pressure of ad-libbing, allowing everyone to just let go. The band really cares about all their fans, whether they have just joined or been around forever.
Before the band ventures off to their next destination, euphoria delights all the Karens when Glad You Came comes on. More than any other song, there is a heavy cloud of sorrow hanging over it. We are not shrouded in gloom but rather spatial vacancy for other creatives. If The Wanted 2.0 have aspirations to reinstate themselves as household names, backup dancers could seriously boost their live shows.
Playlist
- Lightening
- Lose My Mind
- I Found You
- Heart Vacancy
- Warzone
- Gold Forvever
- All Time Low
- Walks Like Rihanna
- Chasing the Sun
- Glad You Came
