More about: The Vaccines

It's quite the young crowd that gather at Kentish Town's O2 Forum for their first proper gig back in over eighteen months. That much is clear from the cheer that goes around the room when Radio X presenter Toby Tarrant asks the question: "Pfizer?"

The coronavirus vaccine brand given to the UK youth is present and correct tonight, pulsing through the veins of many of the two-thousand-odd people in attendance. There's a healthy cheer for "Astrazeneca?" and "Moderna?" too ("Hipsters", Tarrant deadpans as a smattering of people cheer for the latter). The irony of this little exchange is certainly not lost on anyone...we're here to see The Vaccines, you see. 

Other than being a delectably pertinent band to reopen crowded rooms and live music without boundaries, Radio X Presents The Vaccines & special guests The Snuts with Barclaycard is also some of the best live band fodder that could greet us back at the pearly gates of moshpit-ery.

The Snuts come on to a reaction almost as charged as our headliners', and the pit churns with pleasure as the Scottish band dole out their hits; hits that landed them a Number One album with their debut W.L. in April.

After an interim singalong to Radio X fodder ('Mr. Brightside', 'Not Nineteen Forever'...you know the drill), The Vaccines take the stage—and the room explodes. 

You may think it's just the distance of eighteen months that makes me call this evening's crowd particularly feral, but it isn't: this is without doubt an unusually euphoric crowd. 

No doubt it's partly the relief of the return that contributes to the emotion, but credit must be given to The Vaccines themselves, who live up to the tag of "Best UK Live Band" tonight. Their set—which combines hits from What Did You Except From The Vaccines (turning ten this year), 2018's Combat Sports and forthcoming album Back In Love City—is unremitting bliss. Teenagers hoist friends on shoulders and the crowd remains in good voice throughout. Even first airings of unreleased tracks 'Wanderlust', 'Paranormal Romance' and 'Jump Off The Top' from Back In Love City are received extremely well.

It would have been nice to hear more from Come Of Age and English Graffiti, but with a ten-year anniversary and more recent songs to peddle, it's understandable why the setlist looked the way it did. Besides, a set of fifteen deep cuts would have been almost as good: The Vaccines are tight as tight can be, with Justin Young's vocals having suffered none during the pandemic.

Good PR from their Pfizer namesakes or not, The Vaccines are probably the most perfect band to welcome London back to a world of spilled beers and hoarse throats: they are, after all, one of Britain's most exciting live bands.

The Vaccines played:

I Can't Quit
I Always Knew
Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)
Wanderlust
Paranormal Romance
Wetsuit
Post Break-Up Sex
Your Love Is My Favourite Song
Back In Love City
Headphones Baby
Handsome
Jump Off The Top
All My Friends Are Falling In Love
If You Wanna
All In White

More about: The Vaccines