BAD SUNS ARE BACK! AMERICAN ROCKERS MAKE A WELCOME CAMDEN RETURN AFTER SIX YEAR ABSENCE

LIVE REVIEW | BAD SUNS w/ Tally Spear, SOAP | ELECTRIC BALLROOM, LONDON | 5th March 2026 by Kevin O’Sullivan

Six years is a long time in music. Trends shift, audiences move on, and bands sometimes fade quietly into the background. Judging by the reception inside Camden’s Electric Ballroom on Thursday night, however, Bad Suns have lost none of the affection their UK fans built up during earlier visits. For many in the room, this felt less like a routine tour stop and more like a long-overdue reunion.

There is a slightly transatlantic feel to the crowd. Alongside the usual Camden gig regulars are plenty of American accents drifting through the room, many belonging to fans who had earlier attended the VIP meet-and-greet. It adds an interesting dynamic to the evening and serves as a reminder that while Bad Suns hail from Los Angeles, their reach comfortably stretches across the Atlantic.

Opening the night is London-based alt-pop artist Tally Spear, who wastes little time making an impression. Bounding onto the stage with restless energy, she delivers a set that sits somewhere between alternative rock attitude and sharp pop songwriting.

Her songs are driven by punchy choruses and tight guitar lines that flirt with punk without abandoning pop accessibility. Before launching into ‘Strangers‘, Spear asks the audience if anyone has ever felt lost — the track lands well, but it is ‘Self Confessions‘ that really lingers. Somewhere nearby someone compares her sound to Avril Lavigne. It is an easy reference point, but Spear has enough personality and bite to avoid feeling like a throwback. By the time she leaves the stage she has clearly won over a good portion of the early crowd.

Next up are SOAP, a band Northern Exposure first highlighted back in 2023 following their name change from The Tyne. They appear to have brought their own supporters along as well. A section near the front already knows the words, and that early enthusiasm spreads steadily through the room.

Soap deal in bright, melodic indie with an easy sense of movement. Their songs have the sort of bounce that makes people nod along before they quite realise it. Even those unfamiliar with the band soon find themselves clapping in time.

The standout moment arrives with ‘Awkward Now‘, a sharply observed song about the inevitable discomfort of running into an ex when you live in a small village. It is witty, catchy and instantly relatable. They close with ‘Boys Don’t Cry’, a track yet to be released. Judging by the response tonight, it will not remain unheard for long.

By the time Bad Suns walk on stage the room is properly warmed up. The reaction is immediate and loud — the kind reserved for a band fans have waited a long time to see again.

The trio keep the approach straightforward. There is very little conversation between songs. Instead, they concentrate on delivering the music, packing close to twenty tracks into a tight seventy-five minute set.

Musically, they are impressive throughout. Their sound blends indie and alternative rock with touches of dream-pop shimmer, new wave gloss and a hint of post-punk atmosphere. The guitars carry a clear 1980s influence, while the melodies remain direct and memorable. It is polished without feeling overly controlled, a style that translates well in a live setting.

If anything feels slightly restrained, it is the stage presence. The songs land perfectly, but a little more interaction might have lifted the energy even further. The audience, however, seem more than satisfied simply to hear the band again.

The closing stretch removes any lingering doubt. ‘Cardiac Arrest’ and ‘Daft Pretty Boys’ transform the Ballroom into a full singalong, voices rising from every corner of the venue as the band bring the night to a close.

Perhaps the only real surprise is that the room is not even fuller. On the strength of the songs alone, Bad Suns could comfortably command larger venues in the UK.

Still, for those inside the Electric Ballroom, the evening feels like a welcome return — proof that sometimes a band does not need elaborate staging or lengthy speeches. Strong songs, played well, remain more than enough.

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Kevin O'Sullivan

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