CASKETS PERFORMING AT LONDON’S O2 ISLINGTON ACADEMY

★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

CASKETS PERFORMING AT LONDON’S O2 ISLINGTON ACADEMY
PHOTOCREDIT: CHARIS LYDIA BAGIOKI

We are already midway through Caskets’ tour in UK and Europe, when they finally hit the stage of the O2 Islington in London, supported by Palmist and Colourblind. Just before they embark on their North America tour, Caskets welcomed a very warm crowd that filled the venue early on in the evening.

Palmist kicked off the evening at 7.45pm, delivering a high energy performance. Using heavy guitars and synths, they immediately caught the audience’s attention with their melodies. Engaging with the crowd and requesting that they dance and jump along – which everyone obliged to gladly – the band showcased a mix of songs, from high-energy dancey beats to slower and more mellow pieces. There was a lot of enthusiasm both sides of the barricade, with the band performing tirelessly and the crowd responding to the dynamism equally. It was a great band to set the mood for the rest of the night, even if their set was short and had some technical issues.

Second up are Texas rockers Colourblind, travelling all the way to the other side of the pond for this gig, supporting Caskets through their whole run through Europe. The lights dimmed and the smoke filled the room as the band began a very atmospheric set, with well-crafted sounds and lyrics to engage the audience. Their distinctive ‘dreamcore’ sound and the overarching themes of personal struggles and introspection had the audience swinging along. Despite the melodic composition, there was a lot of ‘rocker’ energy through the set, and a lot of visual engagement. The crowd seemed to sing along to many of their songs – they have after all amassed 28 million Spotify streams – especially when ‘Haunted’ came on.

Anticipation reached its peak when Caskets came on stage just before 9.30pm, and the bright light show instantly shifted the atmosphere in the room. The band had the front row screaming back the lyrics since ‘Guiding Light’ came on, the first song of a 12-song setlist showcasing the band’s work from their albums Reflections, Lost Souls and Ghost Like You. The band engaged with the audience, sharing personal stories and asking them to participate, and the audience obeyed without objections. Crowdsurfing, screaming their lungs out and jumping up and down, the crowd had the venue shaking through the whole set.

Notably, as fan favourite songs ‘More than Misery’, ‘Drowned in Emotion’, ‘Silhouettes’, ‘Lost in Echoes’ and of course ‘Glass Heart’ came on, the audience did more of the singing than the band. The crowd kept singing the lyrics back, while the band’s interactions with their audience made for a very touching scene showing how a loyal fanbase can completely transform one’s gig experience. It was all smiles in the room – and it is great to see a band on stage enjoy what they do as much as Caskets did. The lighting design also deserves its own shoutout, complementing the band’s performance and making for great photogenic moments. From subtle mood lighting during the slower songs to intense strobes through the heavier tracks, the visuals of the show were meticulously crafted to match the band’s energy on stage. Last special shoutout goes to the song ‘Signs’, a very old one of the band that was a personal favourite to hear live.

All in all, it was a great gig and an unmissable set. Caskets are set to tour the rest of Europe and then America, and whoever needs a good time should definitely give their gig a go – whether you can sing along or not. As always, bonus points if you can!