Wunderhorse | The Forum
As I waited in the line at the Forum, I watched a hyper-specific crowd walk up Hozier lane to join the line behind me.
Here is my approximate statistical breakdown:
98% of fans were aged between 19 and 22
(the other 2% were dads)
53% were dressed in Fontaines DC Merch
47% I recognised from local Melbourne bands
0% of fans tried to cut in the line
68% were men (who were straight out of my roses section on Hinge)
The excitement was palpable, most of these fans (including me) had been waiting for this moment for 11 months, when it was announced that Wunderhorse would be supporting Fontaines DC on their “Romance” Australia and New Zealand tour. Later, Wunderhorse was replaced by Shame, for "unforeseen personal circumstances".
“Headsend” started the night off strong, despite their hectic month being a showcase artist at Bigsound and jumping straight onto the tour. In my opinion, the rockband from Byron Bay were the perfect choice to open for Wunderhorse. “Headsend” is a band that weaponises suspense, grinding through repeated riffs that coil tighter with every cycle, layering jagged textures until the tension snaps in an explosive eruption of grunge-soaked fury. Although you can’t find them on Spotify yet, “Headsend” have been working in the studio with Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, The 1975) and Nick DiDia (Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine), with new music set for release later in 2025.
After “Headsend” wrapped up and the “Wunderhorse” banner lowered, the whole of the Forum was now PACKED. The energy shifted instantly- you could almost hear the collective intake of breath before the first note. Wunderhorse really are the soundtrack to youth- cathartic, nostalgic and painfully emotive. They manage to perfectly blend 90s grunge with vulnerable and personal song writing, delivered through Slater’s gritty, soulful vocals.
Their setlist included all of the crowd’s favourites and finished with a massive mosh pit for their encore song Rain. A notable highlight of the set was the tour debut of One For The Pigeons, a Jacob Slater original. It felt like such a privilege to watch him illuminated by a single spotlight- just him, his guitar and raw emotion. The result was a simple yet hauntingly beautiful love ballad that resonated through The Forum.
The band we saw at the Forum was reasonably new, with the only original members being Jacob Slater (lead singer) and Jamie Staples (drums). Bassist Seb Byford has only recently joined the band, and Oscar Brown was filling in for guitarist Harry Fowler. Despite this, the band gelled together like they had been touring for years.
If I had any critique, it would be that the set felt short, almost as if I’d accidentally watched it at 1.5x speed. And while I longed for a little more chatter from Jacob between songs, maybe that’s part of their super nonchalant vibe.
For a crowd of mostly 20-somethings who had been waiting almost a year, Wunderhorse rewarded every ounce of anticipation. They capture both the loneliness and the hope of youth, and make you feel less alone in the process.
