Everyone loves a Hollywood ending, but when it comes to the music business the final note is often one of tragedy, not triumph. In the case of Keane vocalist Tom Chaplin, I’m happy to report that it’s the comeback story of the year. Chaplin’s honesty regarding his struggle with addiction is both sobering and inspiring. The result is Chaplin’s recorded debut as a songwriter, simply titled The Wave, and it’s a fucking masterpiece.
“I think of the album as the before, during and after,” says Chaplin in a recent interview. He continues, “That’s when I was faced with the choice of stopping or carrying on and losing everything—my marriage, family, my career—as well as facing up to the fact that I might die.” This statement sets the table for songs of hope and a self-awakening orchestrated by Chaplin and produced by Matt Hales of Aqualung fame.
The first time I saw Keane was in Houston Texas at a tiny club back in the mid 2000s and I knew there was something special about this band. Having seen them three or four times since, I would never have guessed what they would evolve into. If you listen to the band’s last record, I would say they’ve left their contemporaries in the dust.
Strangeland is easily their crowning achievement. I would not hesitate to call this one of the best records of all time, certainly a top ten of my lifetime. It’s a stunning statement from a band who has mastered the hooks and the lush arrangements in support of a story, along with the visuals to tie it all together. Listening to this record from start to finish, it’s hard to imagine that anyone could outdo it.
While The Wave is certainly an extension of Keane, it’s unique in its presentation. In a world where records are dying, this one thrives. It doesn’t come across as being organized by a record exec for strategic placement of “hits,” but instead it’s a consistent story from the first song to the last. A story from light to dark as Chaplin states in the commentary for the opening track “Still Waiting.”
One of the most remarkable songs on The Wave, one that hits home for me personally, is the first single “Quicksand” which Chaplin wrote for his toddler. He says, “I knew that I wanted to write a song to or about Freya, but nothing schmaltzy or cheesy. I don’t want to burden her with how miserable the world can be, but I want her to realise it’s not always going to be a bed of roses. My own experience has been so full of crazy ups and downs and probably more extreme than she will face. But I want to give her a balanced view of how life will be.”
When you hear this song live and Chaplin snaps in the line “suck it up,” it’s a perfect contrast and sets up for one of the most powerful and moving choruses I’ve heard in some time. I’m talking leaps and bounds above Adele, Sam Smith—you name it.
The show that night was simply stunning. Chaplin admitted to losing his voice a bit but the capacity crowd didn’t notice. As expected The Wave was where the majority of the setlist came from, but Chaplin threw in a few surprises along the way including Keane favorites “Sovereign Light Cafe,” “Silenced by the Night,” and an encore of “Everybody’s Changing.” While it was great to hear those songs, I would have been happy to hear the new album from start to finish. It was a rare moment to see such a huge talent in such an intimate venue—800 people I believe.
A couple of other observations during the set: Keane drummer Richard Hughes was in attendance and may or may not have heckled from the balcony. The drummer for Chaplin’s band, Sebastian Sternberg, is an absolutely beast, so much so that I don’t think I’ve ever seen a drummer so elegantly and meticulously beat the shit out of their drums.
The artists with the biggest talents and the most to lose are the ones who often struggle with demons. Chaplin’s voice is one in a million, the type of voice that only comes around once in a lifetime. We can all be thankful that Chaplin made the decisions he did which likely saved himself. Just in time.
Were you at the show? What did you think of the performance? Join the conversation in the comment section below. Check out hi res photos in the gallery here.
