Opening the set with ‘The Sights’ – a welcomed single from their most recent album – came a diverse set for music lovers galore. A clear consensus from the crowd followed as they come on stage evoking an eruption of continuous applause that didn’t halt for the entire set. A band that seem so easily to touch base with every genre whilst still being engaging, Enter Shikari delivered here an engaging and varied set that rather than being a quick stop at old favourites, felt fresh and inventive. There was a concept to the order of songs played as the crowd we lead through a story of their creation, beliefs and motivations.
The production of the entire performance was unparalleled for a venue the size of the O2 academy with a declaration of strobe lighting and large pieces of scaffolding that lit up their stage. Several songs were accompanied with confetti canons adding to the drama of the arguably perfect set. It felt a much larger venue than it was which was helped by lead singer Rou Reynolds’ stage presence, clearly indicting the twenty years the band has been together.
The crowd was arguably a sound as loud as the band themselves – consistent booms of everyone jumping to the intense rhythms as cups went flying and bodies collected in large pits of expression. Everyone in the room was having a good time.Finishing off with what they considered to be a quick-fire round – four songs in eight minutes – regained the momentum and sent the crowd into a wild frenzy as their biggest hits were rolled out. The crowd were left chanting for the encore that they quickly delivered. Thank you for your passion, energy and volume Enter Shakari, in the same words as you thanked us.
Jessica McCarrick 