LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: I SEE STARS AT THE UNDERWORLD, LONDON 28/05/25
Full photo gallery for I See Stars here
Full photo gallery for The Hara here
Rock shows were never designed for the weak-willed, but an I See Stars set at The Underworld, Camden can only be described as an assault on all the senses.
The Hara had a relatively easy job of warming the crowd up. Starting at approximately 100 degrees anyway, the task was straightforward and they executed it with ease and savvy.
“I wanna see some weird, crazy shit in the audience tonight.” frontman Josh Taylor requested. Weird, crazy shit we got, but mostly from the band themselves. Guitarist Zack Breen donned a panda head (called Rufus) and we all just acted like that's normal.
The Hara also have impressive powers of persuasion, understanding the importance of leading by example. After the standard call for mosh pits, Taylor put his money where his mouth is and got straight down into the crowd throwing himself around with the willing.
‘Fire‘ from the band's latest record 2023’s Survival Mode and their next release ‘Stay’ both showcased the energetic trajectory of the band. A sound moving further into punk and metal sounds than on their more pop infused formative tracks.
We were treated to the brand new single, ‘The System’ as The Hara completed a strong opener.
I See Stars emerged to properly eager energy. Right from the off, the whole room was singing along and an already warm room was sent nuclear just by pure excitement.
“We are I See Stars and we are so happy to be here.” singer Devin Oliver paused half way through ‘Running with Scissors’ and took in the room, not even able to wait until the end of the first track to issue a greeting.
“We got ourselves a sold-out fuckin show tonight. I wanna see those bodies moving,” he instructed. Movement there was, despite the packed in, sold out venue, fans still managed to make space to jump around.
An intense, vibrating bassline shook the floor as ‘Ten Thousand Feet’ hit and the band's electrocore chops were on full show. This is also where the mosh pits kicked up a gear.
“Where are the old school fans at tonight?” Oliver asked and the vast majority of the room responded, demonstrating a legacy of devoted fans from back in the days of Warped Tour and intense tour cycles with scene heavyweights such as Of Mice & Men and Asking Alexandria.
Confirming new music coming this summer, the band treated The Underworld to more tracks from last year's release SPLIT with the beautiful and soaring ‘are we 3ven?’, intense and heartfelt ‘D4MAGE DONE’ and the relentless title track ‘SPLIT’.
“Come back and hang out with us next time, okay?” Oliver teased as arms raised throughout the entire room and the band blasted through ‘Anomaly’ and sweaty, happy fans spilled out onto the streets of Camden.
Words: Imogen Bird
Photos: Florelle Servageon
Full setlist below:
Running With Scissors
Drift
Break
Ten Thousand Feet
New Demons
are we 3ven?
D4MAGE DONE
Filth Friends
SPLIT
Yellow King
White Lies
Murder Mitten
Calm Snow
Anomaly
