Live Review: Neck Deep, Wargasm, Higher Power, happydaze | O2 Academy Brixton, London | 23/02/2022
Fourth times the charm for Neck Deep's latest tour as they invite us into the world of Sonderland, a chance to leave the baggage at the door, fans united by a band and album that helped so many through the last two years.
happydaze
First onto O2 Brixton Academy’s stage is happydaze, pop punk sounding four piece from Edinburgh, performing tracks from their recently released debut EP Underground Summer Sound. Full of energy they catch the audiences attention with their choppy riffs and interesting vocals.
6/10
Score: 6/10
Higher Power
Higher Power are an English hardcore punk act from Leeds and have been kicking around since 2014. Bringing everything you’d want from a punk set, the vocals are brutal and the instrumental makes you want to go and get any pent up emotion out in the circle pit.
Score: 8/10
Wargasm
If you haven’t come across Wargasm yet, where have you been? This band seem to be everywhere at the moment and for good reason. Formed of the chaotic, in the best way, duo Milkie Way and Sam Matlock they tear up Brixton’s stage. Bolting around the space with no stops to take a breath, the band is captivating and the crowd are loving it. On track they sound good but live, Wargasm are phenomenal. The band are quickly making their way up the UK scene and this live performance proves that they really do deserve to be.
Score: 8/10
Neck Deep
Tonight we are welcomed into Seb Barlow’s bedroom. Tonight’s set design reflects the origins of where Neck Deep started while celebrating where they are now. This show has been rescheduled four times and is in support for the release of their fourth studio album All distortions are intentional, back in July 2020.
This is the first Headline UK tour from Neck Deep in a long time and it’s clear just how eager the fans have been for their return, restless with excitement and as the background music cuts out, the lights go dark, it’s finally time, the room erupts.
The band come on to the anticipation building introduction of the track ‘Sonderland’, going into Lowlife’ then ‘Motion Sickness’ it’s a blur of excitement and ridiculously high jumping from lead singer Ben Barlow.
The setlist tonight is faultless, a perfect mixture of both current and back catalogue, taking us back to a golden era of pop-punk with a very decent amount of tracks from ‘Life’s not out to get you’ and ‘Rain in July’ while not overlooking their newer material. The performance from the band is faultless, the amount of energy Neck Deep bring to the stage is unparalleled from start to finish.
Finishing with ‘Gold Steps’ and ‘In Bloom’ the night has been pretty much as close to perfection as it gets. Tonight has been a showcase of the talent UK rock bands are bringing to the stage right now.
Score: 9/10
Tonight we are welcomed into Seb Barlow’s bedroom. Tonight’s set design reflects the origins of where Neck Deep started while celebrating where they are now. This show has been rescheduled three times and is in support for the release of their fourth studio album All distortions are intentional, back in July 2020.
This is the first Headline UK tour from Neck Deep in a long time and it’s clear just how eager the fans have been for their return, restless with excitement and as the background music cuts out, the lights go dark, it’s finally time, the room erupts.
The band come on to the anticipation building introduction of the track ‘Sonderland’, going into Lowlife’ then ‘Motion Sickness’ it’s a blur of excitement and ridiculously high jumping from lead singer Ben Barlow.
The setlist tonight is faultless, a perfect mixture of both current and back catalogue, taking us back to a golden era of pop-punk with a very decent amount of tracks from ‘Life’s not out to get you’ and ‘Rain in July’ while not overlooking their newer material. The performance from the band is faultless, the amount of energy Neck Deep bring to the stage is unparalleled from start to finish.
Finishing with ‘Gold Steps’ and ‘In Bloom’ the night has been pretty much as close to perfection as it gets. Tonight has been a showcase of the talent UK rock bands are bringing to the stage right now.
Score: 9/10