NECK DEEP // O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON, LONDON
NECK DEEP BRING PRECISION POP-PUNK CHAOS TO LONDON
⭐⭐⭐⭐(4.5/5)
NECK DEEP AT O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON, LONDON
PHOTOCREDIT: CHARIS LYDIA BAGIOKI
Pop-punk is often treated like emotional improvisation - it is all heart but no blueprint. Yet, Neck Deep’s London show proved the opposite. This was not just nostalgia on autopilot or a youthful reckless heated gig, but a tightly engineered release of pressure and chaos, operating with clinical efficiency. London didn’t just get a throwback, it got a well-oiled machine and a spectacle for the books.
Powering up the engine were Anxious, a band that exists in the intersection of hardcore and pop-punk, being both disciplined and vulnerable. Since emerging from Connecticut’s DIY scene, they have earned attention due to their compact songs, honest delivery and tireless jumping and theatrics on stage. Their material borrows a lot of elements from emotional post-punk, classic pop-punk and introspective lyrics. The band approached the room cautiously, inviting the audience to step closer. There was no lack of confidence in their set, but intent that they could warm up the crowd with expression, emotion and heavy landing songs. The crowd response was attentive rather than explosive - which suited the material; they had heads nodding, bodies still but eyes glued on them. It is hard for an opener band to warm up a crowd that is not theirs, but Anxious managed to connect with the attendees and calibrated the room, ready for the next act.
Boston Manor followed with a sharper shift in tone. Their evolution has been deliberate, by shedding early pop-punk skin in favour of darker, more industrial-leaning alt-rock textures. Their songs and stage presence is much more interested in mood, atmosphere and discomfort; they are not the soundtrack to care-free summers, but the unease that comes when the first drops of autumnal rain hits. As expected, their set was moodier, darker, heavier and more aggressive, with the lighting reflecting their preference of shadow over spotlight. The barricade was now completely immersed in the experience, with the first few crowd-surfers making their appearance to the front. Their setlist was a masterclass in controlled aggression, starting off with ‘Heat Me Up’, ‘Container’ and ‘Why I Sleep’, going into hits such as ‘Crocus’, ‘Passenger’ and of course, ‘Foxglove’ (may I add this is the trifecta of top Spotify listens for me). The response of the crowd was mixed, with a few craving the intimacy the set provided and others locking in to the absolute chaos that the band brings. Could not have picked a better support band for this run, in my opinion, as Boston Manor never fail to please.
Neck Deep’s trajectory is well-documented, as they catapulted from being a Welsh pop-punk bunch of hopefuls to global standard-bearers for an entire genre. What’s less discussed about them is their ability to scale without dilution; so whilst their venues grew and their audience multiplied, their understanding of dynamics and crowd control did not remain the same. This London date in the iconic Brixton Academy feels less like a victory lap and more proof of concept. So when they finally took the stage, the crowd reaction was immediate - recognition. The crowd knew what it came for and the band knew exactly how to deliver it.
Their set was laced with nostalgia and intelligence, as newer material sat comfortably alongside established anthems.There was not much fanfair and introduction as the setlist built momentum on its own: ‘Citizens of Earth’, ‘Threat Level Midnight’, ‘Lime St'.’ and ‘Kali Ma’ had the crowd bouncing and crowd-surfing, as the confetti rained down on them. The band’s stage presence was confident and purposeful, whilst musically they were sharp. The drums were pounding the walls, the guitars stayed crisp delivering breakdowns with enough weight to feel earned and the choruses triggered immediate sing-alongs and mass participation. As the setlist progressed to ‘Rock Bottom’, ‘Can’t Kick Up The Roots’ and ‘December (Again)’, pits opened and closed, crowdsurfers kept coming in waves and everyone had a smile plastered on their face. What stood out the most was the lack of irony; for a genre that gets the most hate, there was nobody there to sneer at pop-punk or apologise for enjoying it. Instead, everyone there was actively participating and enjoying the gig to the fullest.
The set came to a close with ‘You Should See Me Now’, ‘STFU’ and encore ‘In Bloom’, but the energy buzzed long after the last note rang in the venue. Neck Deep showed that having control over their material, audience and scale holds a lot of weight and makes the genre feel alive. It was an incredible show to close off the final week before Christmas and to realise that some shows do not need to spiral out of control to be satisfactory - they just need to be authentic.
REVIEW + PHOTOS BY: CHARIS LYDIA BAGIOKI
