VANT stand up to be counted at London's Electric Ballroom

VANT’s debut album is a sprawling listen. A collection of ideas, thoughts, beliefs and hopes. It’s a reflection of the times and presents countless rabbit holes to tumble down and threads to pull at. Live, there’s less discovery and more adventure. With the excitement dialled up and everything making a more direct sense on stage, VANT are a band fully realised as they headline London’s Electric Ballroom. Onstage for a little over an hour, the band burn through their set with an intense desire to make each pointed moment or reckless abandon count for something. It quickly adds up to blistering and jaw dropping. With the album out and their cards on the table, it feels like everything has come together in glorious harmony. You can almost hear the click as the pieces fall into place. “The fact that this many people give a fuck, gives me hope,” beams frontman Mattie in a pause from the wonderful chaos. “Right now, we need to imagine we’re in the sixties,” he explains before ‘Mess Around’s laid back escape. Elsewhere, the message of ‘Peace & Love’ extends far beyond the track’s call to arms. From warning about crowdsurfing, “please be considerate of the small people at the front. If you’re too big to crowdsurf, don’t do it” to telling the room that anyone asking what’s the point of International Woman’s Day is a fucking idiot through the rainbow lights that soundtrack the declaration of “we’re all the same” in ‘Put Down Your Gun’, VANT are a band standing up. It’s not a passive demonstration either. Tonight’s gig is an exercise in expression and being heard. Their songs are designed to be sung, screamed and shouted about the room and there’s a power in being vocal. “We are a sleeping generation,” Mattie repeats. “What you’re showing now is that you can use your voice. Turn them into the real world.” Tonight that message feels real. It feels believable. It is attainable. VANT have been charging forward for months now but they’re finally at a point with people backing them. It’s a force to be reckoned with. “Dumb Blood. It’s time to wake up.”