Indie-pop duo Oh Wonder took the stage at the Ogden Theatre on the night of Wednesday, May 23 to delight a crowd bursting with devoted fans.
Ever since their debut, self-titled album in 2015, Oh Wonder has only grown in popularity. Londoners Josephine Vander Gucht (keys, vocals) and Anthony West (guitar, vocals) have since traveled the globe playing their alternative pop, R&B, electronic and synth music, pairing breathy voices with simple instrumentations and electronic creations. Their second album, “Ultralife,” came out in 2017. They recently kicked off a summer tour to celebrate it, joined on the road by bassist Yves Fernandez and drummer George Lindsay, and the album was well-showcased at the Ogden.
The pair appropriately began the night with “Livewire,” the first track on their first album. They moved next to “Dazzle,” and the crowd swayed along and enjoyed the stunning light show, relishing the passion and irresistable joy of the performers; despite the low-key vibes of a lot of their music, the atmosphere at the Ogden was alive and attentive to every song. Oh Wonder successfully navigated between dance-worthy jams like “Heavy” and heartfelt and personal songs like “All We Do,” keeping the energy levels up all the while. Vander Gucht and West bring an infectious energy and enthusiasm to the stage, taking moments to pause between numbers to interact with the audience. One poignant moment was when Vander Gucht spoke about the value of individuality, encouraging everyone to “just be the best version of you.”
Some of the other highlights were “Lose It” and “Overgrown,” plus “Heart Strings,” which welcomed Vander Gucht’s brother, William, to add a saxophone to the mix—something maybe Oh Wonder should consider as a permanent addition. Later, “High On Humans” electrified the crowd and brought out more of the electropop and synth vibes. However, nothing topped the excitement of the encore, when Vander Gucht sprinted back on stage, jumping up and down, to sing “Ultralife.”
“I think that was my favorite moment of 2018,” said West after the song.
The Ogden was the perfect venue for a fun yet intimate show with Oh Wonder. There was a strong sense of community as fans sang along to every word, and Vander Gucht could not speak highly enough about Denver as an audience and as a city.
Overall, the pair ended the night sweaty and exhausted but absolutely thrilled at the progression of the show, and they finished with their biggest hit, “Drive,” sending Oh Wonder fans home smiling and satisfied.
Oh Wonder will continue their tour in the coming months, and both “Oh Wonder” and “Ultralife” are available now for streaming and purchase.
