The Vaccines takeover this week’s 1883 On Rotation playlist.

Undoubtedly the indie legends have earned their place as one of the UK’s most beloved bands since first forming in 2010. It’s all thanks to their inimitable sound, thrilling live shows, and five top-ten UK albums. The London-based group have previously graced one of 1883’s covers for our sixth issue back in 2012 and we most recently caught up with the band prior to the release of LP five, Back In Love City. A brilliant concept record based around a modern-day pleasure island – equal part utopia and dystopia. As a whole, the album boasted far more pop sensibilities and it distilled some classic sonic elements which you’ve come to expect from the four-piece into one body of work. You can read that interview by clicking here. At the moment, The Vaccines are currently working on their unannounced and hotly-anticipated sixth studio album while also powering through a slew of key festival dates. Their next show is at Crystal Palace Park on July 7 for Community Presents, a day festival with an enticing lineup including The Vaccines, Two Door Cinema Club, The Wombats, and more.

To coincide with the forthcoming festival date, The Vaccines’ frontperson Justin Hayward-Young curated an exclusive playlist of pre-show tunes that get the group ready for a big performance. 

ANTO & JOHNNY – SUGAR SONG 

There’s something about listening to music so cinematic that helps you suspend your own disbelief and get into whatever character it is you want to channel that day on stage – regardless of how you were feeling about real life an hour before.

TODD EDWARDS – THE CHANT 

One of the nice things about playing music before you go on stage is showing each other music you’ve been listening to a lot recently. I’ve been going through a big Todd Edwards phase and subjecting everyone else to it too.

WINGS – SINGLE PIGEON

All the post-Beatles solo projects are so rewarding because every time you dive in you find a new song as good as any other that you’d never heard before. Someone showed me this the other day and I couldn’t believe I’d gone my whole life without hearing it.

ALVVAYS – PHARMACIST 

Alvvays are one of my favourite current bands. It’s classic and modern in equal measure. It’s really inspiring. Sometimes you can be made to feel a bit pre-enlightenment playing indie rock so it’s always inspiring to hear newer acts do it so well.

ICEAGE – THE LORD’S FAVOURITE

We actually have a playlist called ‘in the dressing room’ on Spotify that I used to regularly update (although admittedly have not since pre-covid) and we would listen to it before every show. I’d quite often just skip to this song.

JOEP BEVING – BEVING:ALA

It might sound counterintuitive but sometimes a bit of peace is actually what you need before creating chaos.

THE WATERBOYS – WHOLE OF THE MOON

One of the greatest love songs every written. ‘I saw the crescent; you saw the whole of the moon’. Ouch!

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – HUNGRY HEART

I guess most people come to gigs to hear their favourite old songs, but we’re often in the dressing room plotting our next chapters. I made a playlist for us to inspire the music for the next record. I wanted it to feel muscular but not punky. Feel like there are very few people who do that better than the boss.

THE WALKMEN – THE RAT

Top 3 indie disco songs of all time (a-punk and someday are the other two in case you’re wondering).

HALL & OATES – RICH GIRL

One of the best pre-show karaoke songs.

The Vaccines perform at Community Presents on July 7. Purchase tickets by clicking here. Follow The Vaccines @thevaccines.

Photography Frank Fieber