Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Way Dynamic were an exciting band to see in Leeds. Their performance at the Brudenell was a perfect fit for the intimate atmosphere that the iconic venue creates. Dylan Young’s strength in songwriting was able to entrance the audience from the start; the blend of indie-pop, humour and emotionally heavy lyrics had the crowd quickly won over. 

One thing that stood out most was how well the songs translated to a live environment. Known for their soft, bedroom-rock style, nobody was expecting the songs to carry as much energy and prowess on stage. Young’s voice dispersed across the room in such an angelic fashion, capturing everyone in one connected moment. Way Dynamic’s show remained intensely strong throughout the whole night, keeping all ears hanging on every lyric. 

The band engaged with the audience during the set in different ways. One element that had us particularly hypnotised was when rhythm guitarist Lehmann Smith brought out a yo-yo and attempted some tricks in front of fans. The crowd was mesmerised — Way Dynamic just have that effect. Once the toy’s antics came to an end, Smith used the yo-yo as an instrument in their next tune, ‘The Others’. The crowd was all over it, and it became a talking point for the track as well as something to laugh about and enjoy as a collective.

Young was able to produce a memorable event for all in attendance. From beginning to finale, he enthralled, entertained and gripped the Brudenell! He had these beautiful transitions between songs where he spoke to the audience and dished out some light banter, while having some intervals in place to build tension and anticipation. He made sure each piece had its own spotlight, too; this was apparent through the intricately curated setlist. Both known and unreleased tracks were included, so you can bet engagement stayed right up there…

Guest gig review contributed by Tom Vrahoulakis.