LIVE REVIEW: DMA’S AT THE O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON, LONDON 12/02/26
Copyright: Kalpesh Lathigra
Australian indie-rock band DMA’s brought their Hills End 10th anniversary tour to London on February 11th and 12th 2026, playing two sold-out shows in South London’s Brixton Academy. Formed in Sydney in 2012, the trio – Tommy O’Dell (vocals), Matt Mason (lead guitar) and Johnny Took (rhythm guitar) – gained international fame in 2014 with their debut single ‘Delete’.
On February 12th, the band had not just one but two support acts at Brixton Academy. Emerging London-based singer-songwriter Matt Felix opened the night with his four-piece band. He performed a set of indie-rock songs, often leaning into slower, more reflective tracks, as the venue gradually filled. Felix thanked DMAs for taking him on tour, sharing that Brixton Academy was his dream venue to play. His performance carried a sense of nostalgia, showcasing his love of playing with vintage influences. His set included songs such as ‘Lay Low’, released in 2014 and arguably his biggest hit so far. ‘‘This is our last song. Thank you for coming. Thank you for staying. Thank you for clapping. I know you didn‘t come to see this“ Felix said before closing with his 2024 release ‘Don't Cry’. The song gradually slowed down toward the end before Felix and his band kicked back in, ending the set with a powerful, guitar-driven instrumental finale.
Following Matt Felix were The Guest List, a young indie band from Manchester made up of Cai Alty (vocals/guitar), Tom Quigley (lead guitar), Sid Wallace (bass), Angus Gilchrist (drums) and Leio Hunter (rhythm guitar). They opened their set with „Ruine“, a track that features a spoken French bridge delivered by bassist Sid Wallace. ‘‘Pour toi je m’oublierais sans hésitation“, he speaks – For you I would forget myself without hesitation“. The band also debuted a new song, due to be released on February 21st, which almost carried some country and folk undertones. Alty thanked the crowd for coming down early, telling them that tonight was The Guest List’s third time playing Brixton Academy and that it never gets old. ‘‘How are we all doing? Are you excited for DMAs?“ he shouted out mid-set. Their performance felt consistently passionate, even during the quieter moments. The five-piece band closed their set with ‘Weatherman’, released in 2025 before leaving the stage as the crowd applauded.
Shortly after DMA’s took the stage. Cups flew through the air, multiple mosh pits broke out in the crowd and fans were shouting back every word before O’Dell could even sing them. With their current tour, the Australian trio are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their debut album Hills End, released in 2016. They played the record in full from start to finish, opening their set with ‘Timeless’. The crowd was incredibly loud, hanging on to every word and, more than once, drowning out the band with their sheer volume.
The 18-song setlist followed the album’s tracklist in full, before the band returned for an encore of six more songs – including fan favorites like ‘Silver’ and ‘Tape Deck Sick’. The set was a strong balance of fast-paced tracks and slower moments, though the crowd’s energy never dipped – even during the quieter songs. Only three songs in, DMA’s launched into ‘Delete’, which became a genuine communal moment inside the Brixton Academy. The crowd sang so loudly that O’Dell frequently stepped back and let them take over some sections. ‘‘Gonna show you something that can‘t be taught“ the audience roared back, almost turning the venue into one voice. It became obvious that many in the room that night had most likely grown up with this band over the past decade – and that shared history was palpable throughout the night.
Musically, DMAs impressed with strong instrumentals that showcased their skills and musicianship. They closed the Hills End portion of their set with ‘Play It Out’, another highlight of the night. Once again, the crowd jumped ahead of O’Dell, belting out ‘‘the world keeps on turning“ before he did. The song felt like a thank you to the fans – a victory lap as they finished the album front to back. The band then left the stage, the lights flickered but the crowd kept singing until drummer Liam Hoskins returned by himself, kicking off the encore with a drum solo.
Before ‘Silver’, guitarist Took addressed the audience; ‘‘We’ve been lucky enough to have people from all over the world come up to us and tell us how much that first record meant to them. So whoever you are and however you discovered it, whatever borught you here tonight, we wanna thank you. You changed our lives. We mean it from the bottom of our hearts. It‘s a joy every time“. His words were met with huge cheers, and as ‘Silver’ started, the Brixton Academy, once again, felt more like a football stadium than a concert venue, thanks to the deafening chants. During ‘Hello Girlfriend’, lead guitarist Matt Mason stretched the song out, looping the line ‘‘Such a funny thing for me, try to explain“ again and again, sending the crowd into wave after wave of moshing and jumping. Every time it seemed the song was about to end, he shouted the lyric once more, even bringing it back a few extra times after O’Dell had already left the stage, wringing every last bit of energy from the room that night.
The connection and love between DMAs and their fans was undeniable; the affection the band showed the crowd was clearly returned with even greater force. ‘‘It’s always amazing to come back here and play. We’re from Sydney. Thank you for the support“ O’Dell told the crowd. They closed the night with their 2015 track ‘Feels Like 37’. ‘‘See you soon!“ O’Dell shouted before leaving the stage, after what felt like a triumphant celebration of „Hills End“. Overall, DMAs delivered a bold, high-energy set that underlined exactly why they’re still here a decade after their debut. The show felt like a full-circle moment, celebrating the record that started it all ten years ago. This tour is more than just nostalgia, it's the Australian trio retracing the footsteps of the album that had the whole of Brixton Academy singing at the top of their lungs that night.
Words by Nadine Goetz