DON BROCO Sell Out Alexandra Palace Alongside The Legendary Papa Roach- Here’s How It Went
Tom Ellis (TJEphotos/FEATS)
A Year after the release of ‘Amazing Things’ Don Broco set off for a Sold out, 10,000 capacity show at London's iconic Alexandra Palace, an exciting bill with Papa Roach joining them on tour.
Papa Roach took to the stage; a band that needs no introduction. The crowd lit up instantaneously, the room full of nostalgia as ‘Last Resort’ blared through the speakers and bounced off all four walls. Papa Roach may be best known for the timeless banger but their newest tracks off of their most recent album ‘Ego Trip’ hit just as hard. The Crowd could not have been more ready - they easily could have headlined Ally Pally themselves.
The crowd was raring and waiting for Don Broco, revisiting Ally Pally for the first time since 2017. This time with the newer tracks off of ‘Amazing Things’, an album that is so well crafted and perfectly captures exactly who Don Broco are. Putting them in a box is not the easiest task for anyone but an album full of variety 'Amazing Things’ couldn't have been received better.
Due to the current surges in merch fees across venues Broco put together their own pub for the night. ‘The Broco Arms’ opened up at “The Big Red” late night bar in Islington for one night only! Crowds queued for hours to enter the pub, in hopes of buying merch, having drinks and meeting the band. There was a wonderful community feel bringing fans together in order to support their favorite band and a local independent pub. Drinks had been flowing and Papa Roach had hyped the crowd up so that when Don Broco came on chaos broke loose (in the best way possible).
Tom Ellis (TJEphotos/FEATS)
A surge of energy piled through as frontman Rob Damiano came out commanding every inch of attention with a red flare in hand, ‘Bruce Willis’ kicked off the show and it didn't take long for the crowd to go crazy. Moshing so hard that during ‘Gum Shield’ the show had to be stopped momentarily for the barrier to be fixed. The set featured songs from across their discography with a heavy focus on their most recent release, ‘Amazing things’. An incredible blend of bangers, atmospheric euphoria and heavy guitar tones, it was a sight to behold.
A true highlight was ‘Manchester Super Reds No.1 fan’ a song that explodes with energy that you can't help but jump to. Damiani was joined on stage by Jacoby Shaddix of “Papa Roach” and the crowd was in awe, encapsulated with every beat. Fan favourites were played all night, including old favorites such as “What you do to me”. My night was made hearing the iconic opening to “Pretty”. Blaring across the PA system we heard, ‘Bedford, where’s Bedford? Cmon’ which I can't help but quote every time I get on a Thameslink train.
The set slowed down with the beautifully atmospheric intro of ‘Endorphins’ as it started, until the electricity was flowing and the heavy riff’s picked up. Anaheim then slowed the set down once more with the crowd singing every word back to the band, one of my favourites off of their discography. Before finishing with the ultimate fan favourite “Nerve”.
Returning to the stage, massive tribal drumming echoed across the iconic venue opening for the beginning of their encore with their latest single “Fingernails”. The whole crowd chanted the simple yet insanely catchy hook of “Pulling off your fingernails one by one” as the pits opened and violently closed once again.
The night then closed in the way Don Broco has always loved to sign off their gigs - ‘T shirt song’. A true signature to their piece of art, thousands of t-shirts were flown up into the air, undoubtedly hitting the person next to them, everybody was swinging their shirt above their head along to the lyrics. ‘They say there's one song left, no time for no regrets, I take my t-shirt off, swing it around my head’.
It was the best way to end an energy-filled, chaotic but wonderful night and the perfect end to their tour.
Check out Don Broco’s Latest single “Fingernails” Below!