“A sold-out show at the O2 Academy is always guaranteed to get sweaty, but there were very few that could compare to the level of energy and passion from both the audience and performers the night Don Broco came to Bristol. They started as they meant to go on with ‘Gumshield’ as their opener, and it only got better from there. The level of commitment and talent throughout the show was phenomenal, including the two opening bands, Trash Boat and Ocean Grove, who warmed the crowd up nicely for a hell of a show.
The show was rooted in heavy rock with blends of pop and a splash of metal, reminiscent of early 2000s rock, giving it a nostalgic feel while being 100% contemporary and original. The heavy bass lines came through strong, especially in my personal favorite song, ‘Pretty.’ By that point, I had joined the crowd in becoming one connected mass of bouncing sweaty bodies, and the energy was infectious.
The visual spectacle that came from both the stage design and lighting only added to the experience. There was a healthy amount of strobes, adding to the absolute chaos down below in the mass of bodies that was the mosh pit. For me, the visuals are just as important as the music when seeing live music, and this was a show that I could confidently say ticked all the boxes. The stage presence of frontman Rob Damiani was also phenomenal as he moved constantly from one side to the other, jumping and dancing his way through the set. He was joined with equal enthusiasm by the rest of the band, and with that, the stage came alive for a night.
The crowd matched the energy from start to finish. At one point, the attention was focused on two children who were experiencing their first-ever live gig. Drumsticks were quickly passed in a human chain back to the two youngest audience members, much to the celebrations and congratulations of the entire venue. What a first gig.
First or thirtieth gig, this was one to remember, and the entire crowd left happy, sweaty, and a little deafer than when they came in. The entire evening showed how live music should be done, and that, although formed over 10 years ago, Don Broco is still at the forefront of avant-garde musicality and has no intention of stopping.”
Words and photos by Anna Hatfield – no use without permission.
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