The atmosphere at Mountford Hall, Liverpool Guild of Students, was electric as Teenage Wrist and Enter Shikari brought their distinctive sounds to the stage for a memorable night of music.
Kicking off the evening was Teenage Wrist, a Los Angeles-based rock duo whose sound blends grunge, pop-punk, shoegaze, and Midwest emo influences. Their performance was marked by dramatic red and blue lighting with soft pink and white hues, setting a nostalgic yet intense tone. The duo opened with Sunshine, a track that layered fuzzy guitars with atmospheric undertones.
Their sound, drawing from the 90s grunge era (think Deftones and Smashing Pumpkins), was evocative of that era’s raw emotion and melancholy. Yellowbelly followed, with its catchy chorus and thick, distorted guitar lines, before concluding their set with the powerful Earth Is a Black Hole, featuring an engaging drum solo seamlessly transitioning into the final chorus.
After Teenage Wrist’s high-energy start, Enter Shikari, one of the UK’s most innovative independent bands, took the stage to deliver a whirlwind performance. Known for their genre-defying sound that blends post-hardcore with electronic elements like drum and bass, dubstep, and trance, they create a dynamic, electrifying atmosphere that’s made them legends in live settings. The crowd, buzzing with excitement, chanted “ohhh Enter Shikari” as the band entered.
They kicked things off with Bloodshot (Coda), building anticipation with a suspenseful intro before launching into the explosive Bloodshot, where the bass immediately hit with a punch, reverberating through the room. The night continued with Antwerpen, an emotional track from Common Dreads, which inspired hardcore fans to sing along, creating a wave of energy that fuelled the crowd’s excitement.
The charismatic frontman, Rou Reynolds, joked, “Time to leave your troubles behind, and your dinner will be served now,” as they segued into { The Dreamer’s Hotel }. This track, with its catchy hook and satirical take on escapism, got the crowd moving and brought a playful vibe to the performance. The show delved deeper into their discographywith Arguing With Thermometers, a powerful critique of corporate greed and environmental exploitation. Reynolds dedicated the song to climate change deniers, reinforcing the band’s socially and politically aware stance.
This moment resonated deeply with the audience, showcasing the band’s ability to connect on a profound level. The night was packed with crowd favourites like Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour and Sorry, You’re Not a Winner, which ignited a frenzy in the audience. The band even added a remix twist to some tracks, enhancing the live experience with their unpredictable and experimental approach.
Despite a few technical difficulties during Leap Into the Lightning, which led to a brief pause in the performance, the band kept the audience engaged with chants from their fans, including the iconic ‘And still we will be here, standing like statues’ from Take to the Skies. This moment of crowd unity showcased the deep connection between the band and their supporters. Once the tech issues were resolved, they delivered THE GREAT UNKNOWN, a track filled with bold introspection and powerful crescendos that felt like an emotional climax.
The momentum didn’t drop as they transitioned into Goldfish, which remained playful but cutting with a remix twist, keeping the crowd’s energy high. The stage production was an eye-popping spectacle, with strobing lights and hypnotic visuals creating a sensory overload that added to the overall experience. In a unique moment, Reynolds performed a trumpet solo, showcasing the band’s ability to mix genres and keep things fresh.
A more mellow track, Deadwood, allowed for a change of pace with its groovy beats and a highlight for Reynolds’ vocal performance before they launched into Giant Pacific Octopus (I Don’t Know You Anymore), a guitar-driven track with unpredictable shifts that kept the audience fully engaged. As the set approached its conclusion, Mothership brought everything back to an explosive high with its combination of heavy breakdowns and euphoric synths.
The audience continued to interact by tossing balloons around, a playful yet meaningful symbol of the love and energy shared between Enter Shikari and their fans. The show ended with A Kiss for the Whole World x, leaving fans with a sense of triumph and unity, perfectly encapsulating Enter Shikari’s power to connect and energise.
The band’s performance was an unforgettable journey, full of passion, innovation, and the sense of togetherness they cultivate in every show. It was a night that highlighted Enter Shikari’s unmatched ability to blend social consciousness with electrifying live music, making them a band that no one should miss.
Zena Morris
