Laurie Wright’s Triumphant Return: New Album Launched at a Sold-Out Scala

It’s been a long and often rocky road for singer/songwriter Laurie Wright, from first appearing as a 16-year-old on a small stage at Glastonbury (while The Verve played the main stage) to a 33-year-old launching his second album in front of 800 fans at a sold-out Scala in King’s Cross.

The journey saw him hit the depths of alcohol and hard drug use, begging and busking with just three strings on a guitar outside the Electric Ballroom in Camden. Five years ago, after his band, The Lodgers, was coming to an end, he woke up on a park bench following a five-day birthday celebration, marking the start of his path to recovery and health.

In the years since, a clean and sober Laurie has emerged, moving from winning a ‘talented fan’ competition run by his heroes, The Libertines, to supporting them live and even singing with them on stage.

The Scala gig served as the album launch for We’re Only Warming Up—his entirely self-written follow-up to last year’s debut, Get On The End Of It. This remarkable 12-song collection sees him not only baring his soul but laying it out in widescreen for all to see. The album presents a transformational journey from addiction through rehab to sobriety with absolute honesty, accompanied by melodic choruses and lyrics that completely immerse listeners in the environments and moments he describes.

Laurie’s music has drawn comparisons to Paul Weller and Steve Marriott and garnered praise from notable figures—Rod Stewart called his music “a breath of fresh air,” and Liam Gallagher remarked, “I’ve heard him; I like him.”

The four-hour gig opened with Superswamp Jellyfish, featuring Laurie on bass, as the first of three support acts. Next came the flamboyantly impressive A.R.T band, led by Laurie’s drummer Alfie Clayton (complete with a rock trombone solo), followed by the three-piece band, The Molotovs. Laurie took the stage at 8:30 pm, kicking off with the title track from We’re Only Warming Up.

The first part of the set was anchored by tracks from the new album, played in their original sequence and received with enthusiasm by a crowd spanning from teens to pensioners.

“All Bad?” reflects on the ups and downs of “the chaos enclosed in a bag,” while the almost celebratory “Who’s Laughing Now?” questions, “When they said that I’d never see the other side… who’s laughing now?”

The mosh pit was already in full flow as Laurie’s five-piece backing band delivered a punchy accompaniment to the storytelling in songs like “The Meaning of My Life,” “I’d Rather Be the Passenger,” “Vicious Circle,” and “Misbehaviour.”

After airing 10 of the new album’s tracks, Laurie launched into “Butterside Up Boy,” the opening track of his debut album.

“It Was All Part of the Plan” (released as a single featuring The Molotovs, who supported Laurie on his last national tour) was reserved for a raucous finale of the main set. The band then exited, leaving Laurie for a poignant solo performance of “Now I’m Not”—the song that perhaps best encapsulates his journey before and after addiction.

Laurie then revived the energy with the tale of a somber encounter while busking, in which homeless Wendy McKenzie requested him to play classic songs from her happier youth. The set closed with fan favorite “West End Lover,” building to a climax with a mini-stage invasion, where Laurie swiftly calmed security before ending the night on a high note with a crowd surf.

Laurie’s next step is a 13-date European tour through France and Germany in November and December, supported by Lucca Mae.

If this is Laurie “only warming up,” we can eagerly anticipate what he’ll produce when he’s in full flow.

Band:

Laurie Wright – Guitar, Vocals
Lucca Mae – Backing Vocals
Tom Monks – Keyboards
Ciaran O’Keeffe – Harmonica, Percussion
Leo Stewart – Bass
Alfie Clayton – Drums

Setlist:

We’re Only Warming Up
All Bad?
Who’s Laughing Now?
The Meaning of My Life
Nearly Man
I’d Rather Be the Passenger
On My Tod
Boodaloo
The Vicious Cycle
Misbehaviour
Butterside Up Boy
I’ve Cracked It
Easy Street
It Was All Part of the Plan
Now I’m Not (solo)
Wendy McKenzie
West End Lover

Social Media:

Website: www.lauriewright.co.uk
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lauriewrightmusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauriewrightmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauriewrightmusic
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauriewrightmusic

Laurie Wright’s Triumphant Return: New Album Launched at a Sold-Out Scala @ www.rocknews.co.uk