The Wave Pictures | Turner Cody
Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
February 25th 2026
The Wave Pictures triumphant return to the Brudenell Social Club. Louder Than War’s Andy Brown is there to soak up the bands timeless indie rock ‘n’ roll.
With the slightest hints that we might finally be edging towards the brighter days of Spring, it feels like an apt time for the reliably fresh sounds of The Wave Pictures to drift back into my life. The last time I saw the Wymeswold-born indie rock trio play was in 2019, which, in all honesty, feels like a lifetime ago. Tonight, the band rolls into the Brudenell Social Club armed with a host of incredible songs and a cheeky glimpse into their new record.
“I ain’t coming home with an ounce of gold/ And I ain’t coming home with a handsome coat,” sings Turner Cody as he slowly but convincingly calms the sea of chatter in the room. Tonight, the Boston-born songwriter is in full-on troubadour mode as he serenades us with his sparse, acoustic Americana. Sad, funny and relatable songs that lean into the country archetype of a lonesome man drifting through an ever-changing world. “Yesterday’s gone up in smoke/ Tomorrow is hard to find/ I’m just boozing and losing my mind,” he sings on the rather beautiful Boozing And Losing.
Turner has been touring the continent but is greeted with – clearly well-humoured/ pantomime-esque – booing when he suggests that it’s more like the US here in the UK. “It’s a compliment!” he insists. He explains how he once tried to build a bit into his set where he talked about the apparent lack of ice cubes and refrigeration in France – and how he liked a cold beer – but that talk of “bringing ice to Europe” hit a little different in recent times. Through songcraft, humour and storytelling, Turner makes a genuine connection with the crowd. A fantastic set.
Without peddling the boorish clichés, The Wave Pictures clearly know a thing or two about rock ‘n’ roll. Their new album – Gained/ Lost – has a cover that purposefully echoes Exile On Main Street, but could Mick and Co ever write a song like Stay Here And Take Care Of The Chickens? “This is the face that will haunt you…” sings a smiling David Tattersall before unfurling the first of many spine-tingling solos. The whole thing is so effortless and unambiguously fun. “Not bad!” he shouts as they finish the first song of the tour. Not bad indeed.
Watching Tattersall, bassist Franic Rozycki and drummer Jonny ‘Huddersfield’ Helm on stage feels like you’ve inadvertently walked into a particularly lively practice: the trio jamming their way through the songs with uninhibited glee. This is a band that actually seems to relish the act of playing music together, and that love, enthusiasm and natural chemistry really comes across. “They’re a lyric band to me,” a man excitedly shouts in my ear, “but I always forget they can shred!” I know exactly what he means. You can’t forget those brilliant bass solos either. Never underestimate The Wave Pictures.
It’s reassuring – and not all that surprising – to find that the new material sits comfortably within the set. Sure & Steady and The House Painted Blue offer nostalgia-tinged, euphoric rock ‘n’ roll, while Faded Wave Pictures T-Shirt is soaked in memories and half-remembered surf guitars. It’s a real gem. However, the highlight has to be the Helm-sung Sparklers. “The universe breathes in/ The universe let’s out a sigh,” he sings as Tattersall and Rozycki create subtle instrumental sparks. Helms voice cuts to the core while the whole thing feels evocative of a cold, crisp, starry-skied night.
Of course, the band have an impressive back-catalogue and dip their collective toes into a number of albums throughout the night. Shelly is a great example of Tattersall’s superb Jonathan Richman-worthy songwriting, while Lisbon – with its winding solos and crowd assisted clapping – remains an utter joy. Their cover of Bad Moon Rising is a much welcome surprise yet it’s the sublimely soulful Now You Are Pregnant that really breaks me. Jonny ‘local boy done good’ Helm is rightly awarded Tattersall’s coveted Man Of The Match, but it’s fair to say they all played an absolute blinder.
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You can find The Wave Pictures on Facebook, Instagram and Bandcamp.
Turner Cody is on Facebook, Instagram and Bandcamp.
All photos by Jim Mumby | You can find him on Facebook and Instagram.
All words by Andy Brown. You can visit his author profile and read more of his reviews for Louder Than War HERE.
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