REVIEW: Adam Hopper and the Wimps at Sidney&Matilda
My withdrawal from live music stood at its month mark the night Manchester’s very own Adam Hopper and The Wimps took to the stage at Sidney & Matilda. Sidney, especially on a Friday night, is a hub of happy people accessorised with cigarettes and a ubiquity of cans of Red Stripe. The night felt warm. I stepped in, knowing absolutely nothing of Adam Hopper and the Wimps. So, overdressed, clutching an unnecessarily carbonated lager and ticking with anticipation, I was ready.
First Prize opened the night, self-described as “Jangle Pop from Sheffield”. The set distantly echoed the off-kilter pop ballads of The Velvet Underground & Nico with groovy harmonies and a conversational back and forth between the two band members. The banter from the stage to the crowd made for a laughter-filled set, to which the band questioned if they should be playing Edinburgh Fringe instead.
The comedy continued with Thee Mightees, a four-piece indie rock band from Sheffield whose friend introduced them to the stage with a barrage of inside jokes and funny quips that could only work at such an intimate venue. The lyric “I could be your Mark E. Smith and fire you from The Fall” was hastily added to my notes app, as a line to remember. Their indie reliability set the stage well for the main set.
Amongst a kerfuffle of instrument mishaps and anticipation, Adam Hopper & The Wimps took to the stage. It became immediately clear that, for this band, the lyrics are the crux of it all. Concentrating on wit, local references, and nostalgia, Adam (and his Wimps) curate a warm, comforting sound, soaked in reflection. The mellow, pop melodies evoke New York’s art pop movements in the 1970s, with a carefree technique.
The band followed through with their set of songs, merging into a foot tapping, lyrically poignant gig. Amongst the favourites were ‘Alexandra Park’, ‘Remember To Have Fun’ and ‘Robin Hood’s Bay’. It was ‘Robin Hood’s Bay’ in particular which sparked nostalgia most effectively for me. Clearly, this is what Hopper does the best. A born raconteur, Adam’s ability to spin a yarn about rock pooling and searching for ammonites in the sleepy Yorkshire harbour in such a captivating manner that I could sense the sea spray, and feel my fingertips getting numb with the cold, is nothing short of incredible. The cozy melody and the familiarity of it all beckoned me to my own chilly childhood memories, a reflection I wasn’t expecting from some unknown band on a Friday night. But Hopper and the Wimps have the tactile ability to do just that. DIY? Yes. Carefree? Yes. But these labels feel too dismissive. That ability to resonate and connect with listeners in just a few songs is the sign of a honed craft and thoughtfulness.
The very local references gave the set a feeling of exclusivity. A quintessentially northern gig by a proudly northern band. The childlike qualities in the music make Hopper & his Wimps ever more endearing in their simplicity. For a band who emanates a lovable innocence, I couldn’t help but smile at the punk rock of it all when it was revealed that bassist Nathan had been playing a right-handed bass upside down, following a technical mishap. Surely, that’s musicianship at its finest!
In ‘typical’ northern spirit, the set was funny and friendly. “It’s what your friends don’t say that hurts you the most” cracked up laughter from the crowd as the tune poked fun at a bandmate’s unfortunate experiments with facial hair (“I’d rather you take the piss than not take me anywhere”).
The Beautiful South and The Beatles seemed to ring from the stage as references, with a particular brand of Heaton-esque lyricism and jangles of early 60s pop simplicity. But alas, to resort to these
comparisons is too reductive in the shadow of Adam Hopper and the Wimps and their true authenticity. Their warmth is refreshing; as we stumble from the post-punk cloud which has so heavily dominated the alternative scene, I’d like to think that pop is back, with Hopper and his Wimps being testament to that.
The set closed on a noisier number, ‘My Friend Al’. This stands out from the set, with the dizzying repetition of “WWW.”, reflections of the Blockbuster DVD rental shops and chaotic harmonica let everyone in the room know Hopper is more than just a one trick pony. I left Sidney&Matilda with a grin on my face, and a notes app full of lyrics so warm and witty, I couldn’t risk them slipping my memory. If you catch them on tour, prepare to be absolutely endeared.
Words: Josie Reaney
