ENTER SHIKARI // WATFORD COLOSSEUM
A storming near-homecoming that proves Enter Shikari remain one of the UK’s standout live bands.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
ENTER SHIKARI AT WATFORD COLOSSEUM
PHOTOCREDIT: CALLUM LINKLATER
After a five-year closure and a £16 million revamp, Watford Colosseum has reopened its doors, restoring one of Hertfordshire’s most historic live music spaces. Originally opened in 1938, the 2000 capacity art deco venue has hosted the likes of Oasis, The Who and Robbie Williams. Now newly refurbished, it provided the perfect setting for Enter Shikari’s only UK headline show of the year, a near homecoming for the St Albans band who formed just up the road in 2003.
The night kicked off with support from Lake Malice, a Brighton based duo who proved to be a good choice to warm up the crowd. Headed by vocalist Alice Guala and guitarist Blake Cornwall, and fresh off the release of their latest single Nobody Wants To Be You, the pair delivered a tight, high energy set blending sharp electronics with heavy riffs. Engaging well with the crowd throughout, Lake Malice were received with genuine enthusiasm, setting the tone perfectly for the night ahead.
Opening with Bloodshot, Enter Shikari wasted no time starting off. Fans were treated to a career spanning setlist that moved through favourites old and new. Early in the set, Rou and the band reflected that the last time they played in Watford was around twenty years ago, possibly for a local battle of the bands. They stated that this was as close to a homecoming as they could get nowadays the anticipation in the crowd showed just how long overdue this return was.
Although billed as a warm up before their European tour, it was clear this show meant more to them than that. Rou joked about getting a bit too fuelled up and risking his voice, but the band were in great form throughout, feeding off the energy of a crowd that matched them from the get go.
During the set, a brief technical issue saw Rou wandering the stage mid song, with a torch in hand, this confused me a little. It later turned out his in ears had fallen out, he laughed it off and carried right on, keeping the show going without any further issue. A highlight for me during Sorry You’re Not a Winner, the crowd nailed the iconic claps in perfect time, different to the scattered attempts seen at festivals early this year. It summed up the night perfectly, Enter Shikari back in home ground and clearly enjoying every second of their long overdue return to Watford.
REVIEW + PHOTOS BY: CALLUM LINKLATER