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New Years Day have been around for quite some time—twenty years this year, to be exact. But if you weren’t aware of this and were seeing them live for the first time, you’d be forgiven for mistaking them for a fresh-faced band on the early rise to stardom. In reality, the band gained momentum via Myspace in their early days and have since shown very little sign of slowing down in the two decades that have followed.
A true testament to their well-earned longevity in the music scene was the packed room at the iconic Thekla, leaving very little space to move on a befittingly dark and stormy Monday night in January. Dedicated fans were not deterred by the weather—many donning similar glam-goth aesthetics to the band—determined to see them live after a five-year absence from the UK.
The lights finally dimmed as the band took the stage, and vocalist Ash Costello called out, “Bristol, are you ready to get weird?” The brutal, chugging first notes of ‘Vampyre’ rang out, launching the crowd into a high-energy set that seamlessly blended tracks from their latest album, ‘Half Black Heart’ (2024), with fan favourites spanning their extensive career.
The palpable chemistry between band members was evident from the off, and Costello, ever the commanding and charismatic frontwoman, engaged the audience with ease and inclusion, her signature black and red hair catching the lights as she used the limited space on the stage to her full advantage and on one occasion entered the crowd area. This energy never wavered as the night went on with the meticulously crafted set keeping the momentum, offering moments of emotional depth and some surprises, like their cover of Kehlani’s ‘Gangsta’, which was originally featured on one of the Punk Goes Pop complications, showcasing their talents as musical chameleons by putting a dark spin on the R&B track.
As the night drew closer to its end, the band delivered a powerful selection of tracks from their 2015 album ‘Malevolence’, showcasing their ability musically to be darker, edgier and more aggressive. After a brief departure from the stage, the crowd chanted demanding one more song, unwilling to let the night end just yet. Answering their calls, the quintet returned for a final performance of the fan-favourite ‘Kill or Be Killed’, which provided a fittingly explosive finale.
Their performance at Thekla was a testament to why New Years Day continue to captivate audiences globally as years go by. From start to finish, their high-octane energy and polished performance left no doubt about their enduring electric appeal, drawing the crowd in on a wintery night and holding them there until the very last note had come to a close.
Words: Phoebe Messenger Images: James Crisp