★★★★★

It’s the 5th November 2021 and while fireworks soar across the hazy, evening sky, Don Broco light up London’s O2 Academy Brixton. Tonight is the first of the Bedford born band’s two-night stint at this Grade II listed building. Not only is it the first time Don Broco have performed in Brixton since their Automatic Tour in 2015, but it is also their first tour since the release of their hotly anticipated album Amazing Things. The album was initially due to be released in September 2021 but had been delayed by a month due to supply and manufacturing issues. By the time October rolled around, there were still problems with the manufacturing of CDs, cassettes and vinyl. Don Broco made the difficult decision to release the album in digital format alone, potentially jeopardising their album sales and chart position. Physical copies of the album are due to be released after Christmas. Fans expressed their support of Don Broco’s decision and commended the band for putting their fans before all else. Tonight is the night for Don Broco to showcase their new music and remind supporters what incredible performers they really are.

The fans in the arena today are not only excited for Don Broco's performance. They are also here to celebrate the return of live music. After a year and a half of being in and out of lockdowns, concert-goers are once again able to experience the feelings of awe, escapism and ecstasy that only live music can provide. Don Broco’s music is a fusion of different genres, combining alternative rock, nu-metal, funk, pop and everything in between. This diverse mix of music is represented by the crowd - while some are kitted out in classic gothic or grunge attire, others channel the more relaxed, hipster aesthetic. There is an air of extreme excitement sweeping through the venue, as fans mingle amongst one another, browse the merchandise and chug their two pinter cups of beer.

The band burst back onto the scene in September 2021, when they headlined the long-awaited Slam Dunk Festival. Don Broco were due to play the main stage the year prior, but like the majority of live music events, the festival was forced to be postponed. When Don Broco finally took to the stage this summer, fans were beyond excited for their return and have been waiting eagerly for their autumn tour.

Tonight’s support acts are NOISY and Kid Brunswick, who liven up the crowd, enticing people from the bar to the main arena. After a short interval, the lights dim and fans pour toward the stage. A violet light then floods the stage area, as four figures can be seen striding to their positions. Matt Donnelly takes to the Drums, Simon Delaney picks up his guitar, Tom Doyle handles the bass guitar and Rob Damiani takes charge of the vocals. Rob’s curly locks and neon orange t-shirt are plainly visible, even to those at the very back of the arena. The band open with ‘Manchester Super Reds No. 1 Fan’, a playful, lively song that gets the crowd roused and ready to party. The lighting serves to liven up the ambience, as red beams flash to the pulse of the music. It’s a real rollercoaster of a song, constantly shifting tempo and flitting between genres. Rob’s loud, aggressive nu-metal style of singing provides a stark contrast to Matt’s soft, high pitched backing vocals. Amazingly, the two vocal styles blend wonderfully together to create a rock song with a unique, experimental feel.

After greeting the crowd, the band play a balanced mixture of old and new material, keeping long term fans satisfied, while still introducing plenty of fresh hits. Fans that have supported Don Broco over the years roar as the band break into ‘Priorities’, the title track off of their 2008 debut studio album. Simon and Tom’s funky guitar riffs ripple through the crowd, before Matt crashes in with the drums, adding some weight to the sound. The song is upbeat and energetic but has a heavy enough undertone to still be considered rock.

Midway through the set, Don Broco slow the pace down with a stunning new song called ‘One True Prince’. The song has a melancholic air and reminds listeners that in the grand scheme of things, individuals are all tiny specks in a universe that is constantly pushing forward. Instead of fretting over the small things, people should enjoy life and make the most out of every situation. The crowd are mesmerised as they listen to Rob’s deep voice belt “It’s okay that we’re not in love” along with a powerful, melodic tune.

Once again, Don Broco raise the energy by playing ‘You Wanna Know’, a much-loved classic from their Priorities album. Rob dances around the stage, as fans wave their arms in the air and jump about joyously, in time to the bouncy beat. What is most apparent about this band is the sheer joy they experience while performing. At its core, this concert is four best buddies having the times of their lives, making great music. For this reason, members of the audience really feel a strong sense of familiarity and connection to the band.

Don Broco finish their set with ‘Bruce Willis’, another brilliant song off of the Amazing Things album. Rob begins singing in a raspy, whispery fashion, before transitioning into an excitable shout and then a high-pitched singing voice. As Rob flips back and forth between vocal styles, the instruments also alternate between sounds. The result is an explosive whirlwind of a song, which is well received by the crowd. It’s hard to believe that the track had only been released a fortnight ago, as fans are already able to recite the lyrics effortlessly. The climax of the song see die-hard fans bellowing “yippie ki-yay, mother f***er” at the top of their lungs.

As soon as Don Broco thank the crowd and exit the stage, fans clap and cheer for the band’s return. After a short pause, the four musicians resume their positions and gather their instruments. Suddenly, a rapid riff resonates through the speakers. The song is ‘Everybody’, a fan favourite from Don Broco’s 2018 album Technology. Immediately, the crowd sing, dance and mosh along to the invigorating anthem.

As soon as ‘Everybody’ draws to a close, the crowd know what’s coming next. Hundreds of audience members whip off their tops and frantically twirl them around in the air, as Don Broco begin their final song for the night. Since its premiere in 2017, it has become customary for the band to finish on ‘T-Shirt Song’. It is very unlikely that fans would let the band off lightly if they were to draw the night to a close with any other track. Although the song isn’t their heaviest, it certainly sends the crowd wild. Gleeful fans sing along to the lyrics “They’re saying there’s one song left - no time for no regrets. I take my T-shirt off, swing it around my head”. For those final few minutes, the sheer joy galvanising through the audience becomes astoundingly obvious. Don Broco certainly know how to end a show on a high and leave fans feeling utterly enraptured.

Written by Deanna Hawkins

Setlist:

Manchester Super Reds No. 1 Fan

Technology

Pretty

Gumshield

Greatness

Automatic

Uber

Come Out To LA

ACTION

One True Prince

You Wanna Know

Endorphins

Nerve

Bruce Willis

Encore 1

Everybody

Encore 2

T-Shirt Song