Live Report: The Wombats at 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin

Back in 2003, it may have seemed improbable that almost two decades later, The Wombats would still be prominent features of the gig circuit. But here we are in 2022, and Dublin’s 3Olympia Theatre is teeming with fans of the Liverpudlian indie scamps. The crowd demographic ranges from teenagers to long-term fans in their thirties - and there's even some upper-tier occupants in their mid-seventies giving the teens a run for their money with impressively persistent dancing.

By 9pm, the crowd is well oiled and ready for The Wombats, after being warmed up by captivating, dream-pop-turned-90s-grunge artist, Cruel Sister - AKA Faith Nico. Twenty minutes after Nico's closing song, The Wombats' frontman Matthew Murphy, bassist Tord Øverland-Knudsen, and drummer Dan Haggis emerge on stage in cool-as-ever ensembles of skinny jeans, abstract patterned shirts and baggy tees. The trio launch straight into 'You Flip Me Upside Down', a track from their newest album, Fix Yourself, Not the World, and the crowd is instantly engaged.

Their set is warm and heartfelt, swinging from driving rock to vibrant pop, and underlining the continuance of their success story by drawing on all five albums to date. However, it is the band's trips down memory lane with longstanding classics like 'Moving To New York' and 'Kill the Director' that elicit the biggest response from their fans. A pink fluorescent light show creates a light, bubbly utopia for the audience to revel in, boosting the aura of dazzling pop tunes like 'Pink Lemonade', and synchronising perfectly with Øverland-Knudsen's driving basslines.

The Wombats at The Olympia. Copyright Laura Klepeisz/hotpress.com

The crowd is treated to a setlist of sugary, high-octane tunes that are contrasted by just enough suave, driving rock'n'roll. 'Ready For the High' is a key example of one that blurs the lines of genre and seamlessly swings between moods. It's easy to understand why Murphy admits he "needs some water" before launching into the song. The 38-year-old simultaneously showcases his spectacular vocal range and talent as a guitarist, with falsetto verses that are juxtaposed by heavy, driving rock guitar lines.

The Wombats boast an impressive repertoire, and with five full albums of bangers to pluck from, it's easy to see why they feature on every indie party playlist. However, the setlist feels somewhat scattered and could perhaps have been ordered a little better. Tucked away towards the end of their set is 'If You Ever Leave, I'm Coming With You.' Murphy wrote the heartwarming song about his wife, and it offers an abundance of luminous buoyancy that inspires the entire room to sing along - but a minor discrepancy occurs as the band appear to accidentally play the song for a second time shortly after.

The enthused crowd doesn't appear bothered though, and they launch into "Olé Olé" chants before the band even suggest they may be leaving the stage soon. TikTok-revived 2015 hit, 'Greek Tragedy' makes for the perfect closing song - or, as Murphy calls it, their "pretend last song" - leaving the audience eagerly awaiting more as they breeze into "one more tune" chants just as Haggis hits the song's final beat.

The Wombats at The Olympia. Copyright Laura Klepeisz/hotpress.com

Their calls are answered as the lads reappear on stage - Haggis now donning a Mayo jersey - and offer the crowd a pretty drastic mood change with a rendition of 'Method to the Madness'. The song's sultry piano chords make it a perfect song for relaxing on a summer's day, but an unusual encore choice for a crowd that clearly wants to dance. Though it initially lacks the excitement the crowd yearns, the four-and-a-half minute track eventually swells into screaming guitar lines and pulsating drums that appear to satisfy the audience's cravings for more.

The final song of the night is 'Turn'. An infectious crowd-pleaser, it reverberates the band's successful sound in 2015's Glitterbug album. Stage invaders dressed as furry marsupials dance around the band and the energy in the room reaches its pinnacle. Murphy’s charming vocals switch from his usual raspy tone to high-pitched riffs, while Øverland-Knudsen and Haggis work in tandem to provide a thunderous accompaniment during the chorus. The gig ends in true early-2000s fashion: a passionate sing-along paired with chaotic dancing and lots of spilled drinks.

As a trio, it's clear that The Wombats offer an impressively wide-ranging sound palette, each working to each other's strengths. They shined particularly bright in their final song, enamouring the crowd with witty lyricism and charismatic showmanship from all three members. However, the song's refrain of "It won't get better than this" inspires the thought that perhaps in terms of setlist organisation, this gig could have been better.

Click here for more photos of the gig.

The Wombats take their tour to the UK in October, moving onto Australia in November. See dates here.