After a three year gap, Bad Omens have made their return to English soil to celebrate the release of their newest album, The Death of Peace of Mind.
Kicking off the UK leg of their European tour was Southampton. It’s no secret that the tour sold out long before it began, but the Southampton date was even upgraded from the 200 capacity Joiners Arms, to the 800 capacity Engine Rooms. These intimate venues provided a very personal experience for both the band and the fans, allowing even those standing at the bar to have an excellent view.
The support bands, Oxymorrons and Ghost Kid, did an incredible job warming up the crowd. Oxymorrons brought an unexpected hip-hop rock fusion with powerful lyrics and driving beats. They closed their set with “Justice,” which had the whole room moving. Lead vocalists, brothers Kami and Demi Bellevue, prefaced the song with a short speech about how “Justice” is more than a song, but an act of solidarity with the people — a message which stirred a roar of cheers from the audience. The band’s energy was infectious, and it was clear how much they enjoyed performing, interacting with the crowd and getting everyone involved from the barrier to the bar.
Second on the bill was Ghøst Kid. The crowd was already in high spirits after Oxymorrons, but Ghøst Kid set the stage on fire opening with “FØØL” from their 2020 debut album. Within seconds of their first song, a mosh pit had opened up and the whole venue was alive. Frontman Sebastian “Sushi” Biesler captured the hearts of the audience with his powerful vocals and elaborate face paint which juxtaposed the fluffy pigtails on his head. The band’s bassist, Stanislaw “Stanni” Czywil, often found himself in the middle of the circle pit while the crowd was conducted expertly around him by Biesler.
Both bands ended their sets with grateful speeches to the audience, thanking them for coming out early to support them. I was also touched by their references to the current cost of living crisis, and how endlessly thankful they were for people still spending their money to come to shows.
Before long, the lights dropped once more and Bad Omens took to the stage. Frontman Noah Sebastian commanded the stage naturally, and the crowd was enraptured by his charisma for the whole performance. Even while the group were offstage, it was incredible to see how invested the audience were, watching the screen intently and listening to the cryptic messages played between songs.
Sebastian’s impressive voice was complemented beautifully by Nick Ruffilo and Joakim “Jolly” Karlsson who framed the stage with their effortless talent. Drummer Nick Folio was tucked away to the back of the stage but his immense presence made him impossible to ignore.
The setlist was dominated by tracks from the new album, but included some classic fan favourites such as “Glass Houses” and “Mercy.” As expected, they closed the main show with “Just Pretend,” which Sebastian referred to as being “the one everyone knows”. The crowd certainly proved their loyalty by belting the lyrics back to the band. The members of Oxymorrons and Ghøst Kid joined Bad Omens on stage for the final chorus, pumping up the crowd even more. It was heartwarming to see a touring party who have such a good connection.
As soon as the band left the stage, the ground began to shake with people stamping and clapping for “one more song.” When Sebastian emerged from backstage and whispered into the mic “how about three more?”, the crowd roared and the band jumped back into action with the new album title track “The Death of Peace of Mind.” They closed the show with “What do you want from me?”, which they introduced as the Bad Omens afterparty theme song.
Bad Omens definitely kicked off the UK leg of their tour with a bang. While I was already a fan of the band, this was the first of their shows I have attended and without a doubt I will be catching them again next time they are on this side of the Atlantic.
After a three year break it was clear that European fans had missed their beloved band and were willing to provide an unforgettable experience to remind the band why they came back. I am grateful to have been able to see Bad Omens in such an intimate venue in Southampton, as it is clear from their recent popularity on TikTok that the band is on track for bigger things.
