Enter Shikari deliver a spectacular show of visual and lyrical fantasy at London’s Wembley Arena

 

Wembley Arena, 17th February 2024

Review & photos: Aggie Anthimidou Photography

“London! I want to dance with you all night long”, says frontman Rou Reynolds. “For the next one and a half hours the world outside of these walls ceases to exist. But you got to question everything, including your own beliefs, especially your own beliefs”.

With these words, Rou summed up the evening;  one of raised fan euphoria and political consciousness.

St Albans electronicore quartet brings their first UK and EU arena tour A Kiss For The Whole World in London with a fantasmagorical show that reflects the band’s vibrant and eclectic rock sound.

With a catalogue that stretches as back as 2007, tonight’s carefully curated setlist brings to life the band’s full musical lifecycle. It is a delicious trip – through the (Enter Shikari) ages of rock, techno, dubstep all masterfully combined.

Opening proceedings, Rou Reynolds appears alone under the spotlight, reciting ‘System…’ while the crowd acts as his devoted chorus. It is possibly the one and only reflective moment before what it is to follow. A burst of unstoppable raw energy, scorching sound and a visual show just as important as the music. Goldfish, giant clocks and retro arcade games art feature as companions to some of the show’s highlights of ‘Jailbreak’, ‘Bloodshot’ and ‘Sssnakepit’ amongst streams of laser lights.

 “Inside of you there is a revolution waiting to happen” Rou says before diving into the crowd.

Every song tonight is connected with moments of political consciousness that Rou pointignatly inserts throughout the show. He makes a point that tonight is about feeling grateful to be safe and together as much as it is about being aware that people in other corners of the world don’t share the same fortune.

”We stand with Palestine”, he says “I hope there’s a Gaza and a Palestine when this fucking nightmare ends”. A speech aptly placed just before setting to ‘goldfish ~’ which turns Wembley Arena into a nightclub of dancing fans.

While sitting on the top of a giant cube made to be – for all intent and purposes – a skyscraper part of the stage’s cityscape, Rou allows for an acoustic intermission. He performs solo ‘Juggernauts’ and ‘Gap in the Fence’ while distracting everyone enough for the rest of the band to take their place on a small stage in the middle of the Arena.

Through another extended foreword of criticism about UK’s current political affairs, we embark on ‘satellites**’ which brings on the stage tonight’s special guest: Sam Ryder, an artist the band have met on tour.

“I don’t wanna leave you but I shall leave you with a last song, one last kiss” Rou proclaims before a musical kiss of fuschia neon visuals during ‘A Kiss for the Whole World x’ surrounds us all in the Arena, undoubtably longing for more.

For a band that already has a long road of success behind them, it feels tonight is only the beginning of an exciting future!

 

 

 

FEVER 333

It’s hard to imagine a better suited band to open for Enter Shikari, though Fever 333 own the stage tonight as much as a co-headliner would.

Frontman Jason Aalon Butler storms into the stage and delivers to the crowds’ expectations; that of a fully heated, punk rock performance of political rigour. The Californian rapcore band is an absolute thrill to watch. For the next 30 minutes, they musically protest, declare their support for Palestine, all while Butler joins fans at the Arena’s balcony before jumping into the crowd.

 

An exhilarating performance which bounds to be repeated soon when the band teases in the end with a UK tour return.