Did You Delete the Kisses?

Ellie Rowsell

Written and photographed by Mackinley Mallard.

Wolf Alice — The Clearing Tour: Wonder Ballroom October 8, 2025

Most people would be familiar with Wolf Alice’s “Don’t Delete the Kisses” that was the backdrop for all of our coming-of-age moments; blaring in the car with your friends, late at

night with you headphones in, or while you were watching Heartstopper and Young Royals maybe thinking of that special someone. What a lot of people aren't familiar with though is the rock star essence of this group that traveled from London all the way down to Portland to perform their album The Clearing. The members Ellie Rowsell (guitarist and singer), Joff Oddie (guitarist), Theo Ellis (bassist), and Joel Amey (singer and drummer) gave a performance worth remembering as they each took turns being stars on the stage.

The Wonder Ballroom was packed with people of all ages from older folk, itching for good rock music, to teenage fanatics hoping to see the members of the band.

While waiting in line, the bands tour bus was waiting outside the venue so we got to see Theo and Joel outside the performance setting. Silver tinsel lined the back of the stage as the fans lined up along the barricades, listening to the opener Willy Mason play some folk inspired rock music.

The actual performance was one that left your jaw on the floor and your heart racing the beat of the music. Given the expansiveness of their set, there’d be times where the crowd would be moshing to one song, dancing to the other, and swaying along to the next. Some of the most notable moments was when Ellie was center stage to the light, stars dancing on the backdrop, hair flowing in the wind as she belted into the microphone. Later on in the performance, there was a moment when all the members stood in a line and did an acoustic and intimate (almost acapella) recondition of their song Safe From Heartbreak which echoed through the venue beautifully.

Later, for their song White Horses, Joel put on his best singing performance as the drummer and put on a punk flare just for Portland. The absolute jaw-dropper of the show was when Ellie brought out a megaphone singing Yuk Foo as the lights beamed red and blue to the sound of police sirens, everyone up on their feet jumping to the music and carrying the energy all the way to the doors. For their encore they wrapped up the show by thanking everyone, new and old fans alike, and closed off with Don’t Delete the Kisses, everyone screaming back the lyrics with the force of live music adrenaline.

Some of my personal favourite songs not mentioned that they played were:

• The Sofa

• Bloom Baby Bloom

• Just Two Girls

• Lipstick on the Glass

• Play It Out

• How Can I Make It Okay?

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I highly recommend giving them a listen especially if you like something a bit more experimental. They have something for everyone ranging from British rock bangers, sweet acoustic melodies, and some punk pop energy so try and find your own cup of tea through their music!