British alternative rock band Wolf Alice join James Corden to virtually perform their latest single, ‘Smile,’ ahead of their upcoming third album, ‘Blue Weekend.’
James Corden introduced the band as “one of the best live bands on the planet.” He continued, “after a four year break their new album ‘Blue Weekend’ is out June 4th, we’re so honoured to have them here.”
Before the performance, the band reminisce with the British TV host about the last time they appeared on the show; drummer Joel Amey added: “Well, we were playing basketball with you on the roof, and I used to keep my passport in my back pocket for about five years and it was just gone. So yeah, everyone was scrambling round trying to find it.”
Corden also asked the band how they feel about their upcoming festival performances this summer; on this lead singer Ellie Rowsell said, “I’m bricking it to be fair, but I can’t wait. I’m missing our fans. It’s been far too long.” The host pauses to remember his American audience may need help with understanding the British colloquialism ‘bricking it.’ He said to the band’s guitarist, “Joff do you want to explain to America what bricking it means?” Joff pretends to be frozen and then jokingly exclaims, “you can google it.”
The pre-recorded performance, shot in the UK, starts in a green filter as the camera zooms in on each band member as they begin to play their instruments heavily. The camera then pans to front lady Ellie Rowsell as she begins to sing, “I ain’t afraid. I ain’t afraid// Though my steps appear tentative//I scope it out then I throw myself into it //I ain’t ashamed in the fact that I’m sensitive //I believe that it is the perfect adjective //I wear my feelings on my sleeve, I suggested it// It serves me better than to swallow in a sedative //I am what I am and I’m good at it //And you don’t like me well that isn’t fucking relevant.”
In a statement on the single ‘Smile,’ Rowsell said: “This is one of the songs we wrote thinking that we would play it live… I miss that feeling of singing on stage. It’s like screaming into a pillow or something — you can get away with being more nasty. There’s a whole other part of me missing.”
Wolf Alice have also made headlines this week after announcing they will be releasing their upcoming third studio album ‘Blue Weekend’ a week early. Announcing its early release on Twitter, the band wrote: “The vinyl has arrived & we’ve held it in our arms and let me tell u we r very proud parents.” They continued: “We’re bringing the release date forward so put June 4th in ur diaries.”
You can watch Wolf Alice perform ‘Smile’ on The Late Late Show now on Youtube.
