Walt Disco made a long-awaited return to Sneaky Pete’s to close their small summer tour, announced alongside the release of their latest single, Coupe de Foudre. This marked the launch of a new era for this hot Scottish band, with a whole new aesthetic and a new record coming out in October.
They shared the stage with Glaswegian alt-rock band Fatale. This young band brought with them an energetic aura, a curated personal style, and the mixture of nervousness and playfulness that characterise all fresh new acts. And yet, they seem to be thinking ahead and have a little boldness: because before you can convince others, you must first believe in yourself. They didn’t seem to have any trouble hyping the crowd, as they were welcomed by a packed house before Walt Disco had hit the stage. With a solid crowd on their side, Fatale set the stage for an evening of incredible music. They are one to keep an eye on if you want to support fresh local bands.
Walt Disco hit the stage at 9.00 PM on the dot with a proper rockstar entrance and roaring applause from the audience. They have everything a successful band should have: the stage presence, the charisma of seasoned musicians, and immeasurable talent. It’s hard to keep a crowd engaged while playing unreleased material, when nobody knows the lyrics, or there are no fan-favourites to go back to. And yet they managed, because vocalist Jocelyn Si owns the stage from the moment she sets foot on it.
The set starts with My Body Knows When to Run, a new electronic track with otherworldly undertones, while the band is illuminated by eerie green and bluish lighting. Lies immediately switches the energy, moving into the 2000s rock vibes teased by their new aesthetic. Jocelyn has the makings of one of the best vocalists of her generation, and one of the most powerful voices I have witnessed live. However, the true strength of Walt Disco is the individual talents each member brings to the band. This is what allows them to confidently move from a complex electronic track – led by Finley McCarthy’s skilfull keyboard work – to the more guitar-forward songs that showcase Lewis Carmichael’s masterful work, who shines especially well in Lies and New Friends.
They slow the tempo with Never New and Warm Face, featuring a more acoustic start and some great backing vocals and airtight rhythm from Charlie Lock and Jack Martin (on bass guitar and drums, respectively). This slower moment culminated in Don’t Do This Alone, which brings the energy up again and prepares the audience for the long-awaited performance of Coupe de Foudre. This is how you spot a sensational band: once the audience met the only track they were familiar with, the crowd instantly erupted.
My Body is Still Mine and Wonderland served as the powerful closing duo of the night. This new rendition of Walt Disco is at the top of their game. They have new music with insane live-performance potential and show off how they can handle a lively and animated crowd while still being able to deliver intense, intimate moments. There is nothing more to add, if not: Walt Disco were incredibly good before, but somehow, they found the secret sauce to become even better. After a successful album run, they came back stronger, more confident, grown into themselves, and settled on an aesthetic that fits them as a band.