Picture This stormed onto the stage like a tidal wave, crossing the Irish Sea with the energy of a tsunami. The packed O2 Academy was bathed in red, setting the tone for the exhilarating opening night of their monumental UK & European Tour.
The stage setup for their ‘Parked Car Conversations’ tour was reminiscent of a scene from London’s West End. Streetlights and full-size trees adorned the stage, showcasing a central piece—a full-size car complete with working headlights and a drum kit perched precariously on top. The band spared no effort in creating a captivating atmosphere for a tour named after their upcoming 4th album slated for release next year.
The crimson ambiance was suddenly interrupted by dark silhouettes, notably that of vocalist Ryan Hennessy, perched on the bonnet of the aforementioned car.
In an instant, the stage burst into a riot of colors and life, revealing the remaining band members to a thunderous cheer from the crowd. The audience, seemingly drawn from the city’s Irish community, waved the tricolor high and chanted ‘ole, ole, ole,’ echoing throughout the electrifying evening and crafting a unique atmosphere for the night.
Adhering to the color theme, ‘Red Lights’ initiated a grand 19-song setlist, featuring tracks from their three multi-million-selling albums and already-released singles from the upcoming album like ‘Leftover Love’ & ‘Song To Myself’. A three-song encore treated the exceptionally engaged crowd to a world premiere live performance of ‘Parked Car Conversations’ and the truly anthemic ‘Get On My Love’, seamlessly merging the band and the audience into a spine-tingling singalong.
We consider ourselves immensely fortunate to have hosted the inaugural show for a band prepared to grace the grandest of international stages. A phenomenal live performance—THIS is the epitome of what a gig should look and feel like.
📸📝 @bristolnomad_gigphotography
@thebristolnomad / @bristolnomad_gigphotography
Role: Photographer / Reviewer / Interviewer
Chief, the one that bugs the team for team for their reviews and images. Creator and founder of The Bristol Gig Guide. Can usually be found swamped in admin or getting cramp kneeling at the front of a gig.
Available for: Gig Shoots, Gig Reviews, Photo Shoots, Album and Single cover shoots, Videography work, Interviews and Touring
First attended gig: Republica, circa 1996.
First gig shot: Hands Off Gretel, at The Louisiana!
Dream gig: Huge metalhead and my ultimate dream gig would be shooting my heroes Slipknot at a huge stadium gig, or as festival headliners. And to experience shooting a headline tour outside the UK
