Australian indie artist Way Dynamic delivered a captivating performance to a sell-out audience at the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath, Birmingham, on Monday night. Reviewer Zoe Chamberlain, who first discovered the artist through the catchy radio hit 'Miffed It', described being hooked from the very first listen.
A Night of Musical Discovery
Way Dynamic is the solo project of Australian musician Dylan Young. His sound draws comparisons to Nick Drake lyrically, Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers vocally, and The Beatles and The Beach Boys musically. Yet the songs carry a fresh simplicity amidst textured layers, with meaningful lyrics that invite sing-alongs.
The band, including support act Liam Parsons, played a wide array of instruments—tambourine, shaker, recorder, keyboard, cowbell, sampler, slide, vibraslap, and melodica—mostly handled by Parsons, whose own set evoked Bruce Springsteen and Fontaines DC.
Highlights from the Set
The group's vocal harmonies were exceptional, and they had the audience from the opening song 'People Settle Down', with its endearing lyrics: 'I wanna be your best friend, I wanna build a gentle house'. The set included chilled moments with beautiful songs like 'In Review', 'They Said', and 'Evening Star', which carried a Slow Club feel.
The band's playful nature shone through as they toyed with yo-yos on stage and joked about how 'Brum was named after a little yellow truck'. 'Mercy Town' was a standout with its fun-loving bridge switch-up, and the David Byrne-esque 'Ibiza'—apparently a favourite of Elton John, who 'cannot stop listening' to it—was downright cool.
'Miffed It' proved a moment, with the crowd singing along to its irresistible riff. The emotive 'I Was The Dancer' closed the night, which ended all too soon.
Album and Venue Appeal
Most songs came from Way Dynamic's new album 'Massive Shoe', available to stream now and on CD from October. Chamberlain noted the band weren't the tightest live act, but that added to the fun, creating a living-room jam vibe. The intimate setting of the Hare & Hounds enhanced the experience, and the reviewer looks forward to Way Dynamic's promised return.
