Brum Shots

They say ‘absence makes the heart grown stronger,’ and no tour proves this point more than AFI’s UK dates this summer – their first in almost a decade.

Before they come on, we are transported to the coolest, most exclusive club by dark wave duo TR/ST. While their moody, monotonous music initially seems an unexpected warm up for hardcore punk legends AFI, but the overwhelming beats slowly rise, dragging the crowd’s energy up with it.

By the time AFI make their long-awaited return to the stage of the o2 Institute, the room is more than ready for them. With his voluminous mullet and moustache, vocalist Davey Havok looks every part the rockstar – he needs only to motion the microphone in the direction of the sold-out audience for their singing to almost drown out the band. And with a set list spanning their entire career, there is truly something for every type of fan.

Guitarist Jade Puget and bassist Hunter Burgan don’t let their nearly constant bouncing around the stage stop the tight sound that only performing together for almost three decades can obtain.

From Girls’s Not Grey to The Boy Who Destroyed The World, the opening notes of each track evoke increasingly loud cheers. Not much is said in between – no introduction to these songs is needed. Even with slightly worn vocal cords, Havok’s performance remains a constant blur of motion.

It’s not until Endlessly, She Said that the tempo drops, providing a slight breather. But still, the sheer volume seems to shake the room. But the downtime doesn’t last long as they launch straight into Blasphemy & Excess.

I think I speak for the entire audience when I say that we are grateful that the wait time before the encore is capped at a swift 90 seconds – despite the strong presence of new, younger fans, many people here have been alive since AFI’s debut release and have beds to get back to. But a final burst of energy is required for The Days of the Phoenix and Miss Murder.

Let’s hope that the dusty festival grounds and airless venues won’t keep AFI away another 9 years – tonight has made it clear how much they’ve been missed!