Bristol O2 Academy, Sunday 20th February 2022
Echo and the Bunnymen have certainly built up a bit of a reputation over the years of being both a brooding moody band and tonight was no different.
Going on 30 minutes late to a packed out house might have been acceptable and maybe even cool back in the 80’s, but for a professional touring band on a Sunday evening it just was not up to par and the crowd thought the same with a round of booing before they came on stage.
When they are performing, however, the familiar post punk cathartic tunes spanning decades ring around the cavernous O2 Academy. Musically the band are tight, perhaps helped by the fact that the backline is made up of seasoned hired guns whilst the “Crowd Pleasers” of vocals and lead guitar are the original members Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant respectively.
Although initially frosty, the crowd was quickly behind the band and singing along to not only the smash hits but the softer B-Sides as well. Interestingly, the crowd was a mix of old die-hards and a younger generation doubtless spurred on by the curiosity of seeing the forerunners of the new wave of Post Punk revival bands that are dominating the charts.
Overall despite a rough start to the night Echo and the Bunnymen gave the fans young and old exactly what they wanted, which was a darkly lit, well produced set full of greatest hits.
@cam.mulberry 
@thebristolnomad
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