GALLERY & REVIEW: Wolf Alice at Fox Theatre – Pomona, CA

A cool gray sky hung over Pomona the night Wolf Alice performed at the Fox Theater on October 11. It felt as if the London band had brought the London weather with them. The city knew they were in town.

Inside the scenic venue,  the lights dimmed and the crowd erupted, cheering for the band as they walked stylishly onto the iconic Fox stage. Wolf Alice opened with “Thorns,” one of the newest songs from their latest album The Clearing. Ellie Rowsell twirled across the stage with her usual energy, completely in her element.

Moments later came “Formidable Cool,” a standout from their second album Visions of a Life. Mid-performance, a sudden blare cut through the music. What sounded like another Charli XCX remix cue turned out to be the fire alarm. For a few seconds, confusion rippled through the venue before the band calmly exited and the audience waited, patient but buzzing. It was soon announced that the alarm was triggered by a fog machine malfunction. When Wolf Alice returned, the crowd greeted them with even louder cheers. Rowsell laughed and told everyone to forget the last ten minutes ever happened.

Their setlist this tour covered songs from all of their albums. Some of my favorites were “Giant Peach,” “White Horses,” “The Sofa,” and “Smile.”

Later in the show, alarms and flashing red and blue lights filled the room, but this time it was part of the chaos. The intro to “Play the Greatest Hits” exploded to life with Rowsell shouting through a megaphone, owning every inch of the stage.

The encore brought the night to a dreamy close. The crowd sang along to “The Last Man on Earth” from Blue Weekend, their voices echoing through the theater as time seemed to slow. The metallic fringe backdrop glowed with tiny stars and hearts while the band ended with the fan favorite “Don’t Delete the Kisses.” Wolf Alice performed with passion and precision, turning each song into an experience. As the audience spilled out onto the street, I found myself standing outside the venue, still wanting more.