Wombats close Liverpool Sound City with 'buttock touching' show

The Wombats brought Liverpool Sound City to a suitably climatic close last night (May 30) with a homecoming show at the city's St Georges Hall.

Taking the stage at 9.30pm (BST) to loud applause, the local band played a raucous set which saw them thrill with tracks including 'Kill the Director', 'Moving To New York' and 'Patricia The Stripper'.

Lead singer Matthew Murphy was characteristically vocal throughout the set, interacting with the crowd between every song with banter about "spooning", the audience "touching each others buttocks" and a gig they had played in Manchester, which prompted mass boos from the Scouse crowd.

As well as performing favourites from album 'The Wombats Present A Guide To Love, Loss And Desperation', they also played a new song, 'How To Pack Your Bags And Leave', which was rapturously received by the capacity crowd.

Murphy told the audience he wrote the song on New Year's Day after "coming back from the shops".

However the highlight of the night came in the form of 'Let's Dance To Joy Division', which included backing vocals from seven local teenagers from various schools across Merseyside.

The Wombats had earlier taught the teens to play the entire song in "two hours".

Forgoing the conventional encore, Murphy instructed the audience to chant "one more song" while the band hid behind the speakers. They then emerged again in mock surprise.

The band finished off with 'My First Wedding' and riotous closer 'Backfire At The Disco'.

The Liverpool trio rounded off four days of gigs, conferences and parties across the city, which were part of one of the biggest musical events the city has seen.

Other acts playing the last night included Hot Club De Paris, Robots in Disguise and IwasACubScout, while the likes of Santogold played early in the week.