Chelsea Wolfe – Koko, London 29/10/24

Camden Town is the home of alternative culture in the UK, so what better place to host Chelsea Wolfe? Performing at the infamous Koko, fans gathered in the hundreds for a night of unforgettable gothic rock.

The beautifully constructed venue became a house of all things alternative as the fans made their way down to the floor and up to the rafters. A feeling of excitement and anticipation built right up until the lights went down and the stage lit up a deep blue. First, three band members took their places, but the real roar erupted as Chelsea Wolfe stepped onto the stage. From the first note, Chelsea had the crowd in the palm of her hand, her haunting voice harmonizing with the packed-out crowd.

Opening with ‘Whispers in the Echo Chamber,’ Wolfe set a hypnotic tone, immediately drawing everyone into her dark world. As she moved into ‘Everything Turns Blue’ and ‘House of Self-Undoing,’ the sound reverberated through the walls, each note steeped in raw emotion. Wolfe’s performance carried a trance-like quality, with waves of melody and distortion rising and falling in a carefully crafted balance that held the audience spellbound.

Each song that followed built on this atmosphere, with tracks like ‘Tunnel Lights’ and ‘16 Psyche’ intensifying the energy. The powerful riffs and driving percussion were perfectly matched by Wolfe’s ethereal vocals, blending vulnerability with strength. Fans swayed and sang along, enraptured as she delivered each lyric with a raw, almost ritualistic energy.

Midway through the set, Wolfe slowed things down with ‘After the Fall’ and ‘The Culling,’ adding a quieter, contemplative layer to the night. The stripped-back performance of ‘Flatlands’ was a standout moment; it was here that Wolfe’s voice took center stage, revealing the delicate, unguarded side of her music. The crowd fell silent, captivated by every note.

The second half of the set was a darker dive into Wolfe’s world, featuring brooding tracks like ‘Salt,’ ‘Unseen World,’ and ‘Eyes Like Nightshade.’ Each song amplified the intensity in the room, pulling the audience deeper into a shared sense of mystery and beauty. ‘Place in the Sun’ and ‘Dusk’ only added to this hypnotic vibe, blurring the lines between artist and audience as Wolfe’s haunting melodies connected with the crowd in a visceral way.

For the encore, Wolfe returned with ‘The Liminal’ and closed the night with ‘Carrion Flowers.’ The pounding rhythms and echoing vocals were a fitting end, capturing the full intensity of Wolfe’s artistry. As the final notes faded, the crowd erupted, a release of energy from the journey Wolfe had taken them on.

Chelsea Wolfe’s show at Koko was an incredible experience, a masterclass in atmospheric and emotionally charged gothic rock. Her performance reminded everyone of why she’s a force in alternative music, a captivating presence who brings beauty to the darker side of music!

Chelsea Wolfe Setlist:
Whispers in the Echo Chamber
Everything Turns Blue
House of Self‐Undoing
Tunnel Lights
16 Psyche
After the Fall
The Culling
Feral Love
The Mother Road
Flatlands
Salt
Unseen World
Eyes Like Nightshade
Place in the Sun
Dusk
Encore:
The Liminal
Carrion Flowers