Bleachers - From the Studio to the Stage

With a sold-out show and fans queuing from the early hours of the morning, excitement was high, proving that they are one of the hottest live acts in music today. Bleachers seem to have gone from strength to strength in recent years, with the release of their self-titled album earlier this year, climbing to the top of the UK Independent Albums chart, a sold-out show at O2 Academy Brixton (one of the UK's most iconic venues), and standout performances at the Reading and Leeds festivals just last weekend.

The evening kicked off with a set from Amy Allen, a name that many may not realise is behind some of our favourite pop tracks. Despite being best known for penning hits like Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso" and "Please Please Please," Allen's commanding stage presence captivated the audience from the very start and proved that she is a force to be reckoned within her own right. She weaved through soft, lyrical tracks and some more upbeat bops. Jack Antonoff, lead singer of Bleachers, has a similar song-writing background, making Amy Allen the perfect support act tonight.

Next up was the main act of the night, Bleachers. “Drug Free America” rang out over the speakers as the lights dimmed and soft strobing hit the stage. As the track faded, Drug-Free emerged under the glow of a recording studio light, perfectly in line with the tour's theme, "From The Studio To The Stage." It was as if the audience had been invited into the recording studio with the band.

The band opened their set with "I Am Right On Time," a mellow start that felt like the calm before the storm. It wasn’t long before the energy was turned up by several notches with "Modern Girl," a track that had everyone dancing. Antonoff, being the high-energy frontman that he is, had the audience in the palm of his hand. Towards the end of the track, as the song slowed a little, he asked everyone to crouch down, demanding that everyone jump when the chorus began again. It’s such a classic move by a band, but is always a winner in getting the audience going.

One of the most touching moments of the night came when Jack Antonoff called out, “Please welcome me in 30 or 40 years.” as his dad, Rick Antonoff, joined the band on stage to play “How Dare You Want More.” The pair seemed to be having the best time together on stage. Jack Antonoff mentioned how special it was to be with the people he loved most, especially after a busy period full of traveling.

Shortly after, we were treated to an acoustic rendition of "Call Me After Midnight." The first half of the song created a quiet, serene atmosphere throughout the theatre, but midway through, a few audience members began to join in, using their voices to add instruments from the recorded track. This playful interaction made Antonoff giggle, which encouraged more people to participate. Antonoff even joked, "This is like some Jacob Collier shit," while trying to control his laughing. It was a completely unplanned moment that again made the audience feel like they were right there with the band in the recording studio. While it probably didn’t go the way that Antonoff had planned, this quiet, serene moment turned into a really fun highlight of the night.

There was another similar moment when Antonoff spoke about how the band had started. He shared that he had been going through a tough time but knew that he wanted to create something incredible. Antonoff recounted how a B-flat note kept playing in his head, repeating over and over. As he described this, the sound of a B-flat played intermittently, as the theatre lights flickered in sync. The off-and-on rhythm of the sound and lights created a growing anticipation, and soon the audience joined in, letting out a long "oh" when the lights dimmed and cheering when they came back on. The interaction felt like a classic British pantomime, with its playful cheering and crowd participation. Finally, the band launched into "Don't Go Dark," and with all of the excitement, the crowd erupted into song and dance, fully hyped by the buildup. 

The band continued to weave in and out of new and old songs, constantly encouraging the audience to participate. During "Rollercoaster," the band got everyone to climb onto each other's shoulders, and later, they once again had the entire crowd crouch down before jumping up to one of their upbeat choruses.

The night ended with a classic encore but with a twist. After "Tiny Moves," Antonoff jumped behind the raised lights at the back of the stage, creating the illusion that he had disappeared. As the rest of the band left the stage, the music continued, letting the audience know that there was more to come. When "I Wanna Get Better" began, the band burst back onto the stage. Just when it had seemed that the energy couldn't get any higher, it did. The room exploded with cheers as everyone sang along, leading into "Don't Take The Money" and closing with "Stop Making This Hurt.

Bleachers are one of those bands that once you’ve seen them live, you will never forget them. They are dynamic and exciting to watch whilst also being incredibly talented musicians. Blasting through a huge 24-track setlist, the energy never faltered and left everyone wanting more.