Suki Waterhouse continued to prove herself to be a magnetic and endlessly energetic performer at her first of two sold-out shows at O2 Forum Kentish Town in London. Captivating the crowd with every song and commanding the stage with ease, she delivered a show that was nothing short of breathtaking.
A beautiful and dynamic opening set by indie-rock artist Findlay set the tone for Suki’s set, with the Mancunian’s genre-bending tracks and engaging stage presence mirroring Waterhouse’s own musical style, and building anticipation for the main event.
In a perfect opening to the show, Suki stepped on stage in a huge burgundy fur coat – her signature look as a performer. ‘Gateway Drug’, the first track off her new album, Memoir of a Sparklemuffin, perfectly set the tone of the show. The music crescendoed as the singer walked out, before quietening down for her voice to echo into the crowd. Hearing this song live was an indescribable experience, with Suki’s performance luring us into her presence, and promising a night full of energy, blaring music and undeniable charisma.
‘Supersad’ was a great follow-up, another upbeat and addictive pop-rock track which had everybody up and dancing as the song encourages. By this point, the heat in the venue had become too much for Waterhouse, who left the fur coat by the end of the song, and instead wore a striped vest top and silver shorts, a look that captured her effortless chicness.
‘OMG’ was a clear fan favourite, with the crowd singing along at almost sound-breaking levels. This was the performance where you could feel how exhilarated everybody was by watching Suki sing live. The lighting added to the elation of the song, flashing red, white before turning into strobe lighting, creating an atmosphere of pure chaos and joy.
For ‘Johanna’, a 2019 release that remains one of Suki’s most adored songs, the fur coat made a reappearance, worn by a fan from Italy who duetted with Suki in a joy-filled and heartwarming performance. The singer always chooses a fan or friend to sing this powerhouse of a song about unrequited love, a sweet touch that made this concert feel much more intimate than most.
The first of three tracks from Waterhouse’s stunning debut album, I Can’t Let Go, ‘Devil I Know’ was characterised by red lighting and blaring spotlights when the singer sang the title. Her energy was infectious, with Suki visually overjoyed by the crowd’s reaction when she sang each chorus. One of the best tracks from her debut, this switched up the tone of the show with its more atmospheric instrumentals, showcasing the singer’s versatility as an artist.
‘Blackout Drunk’ returned the energy in the best way possible, another song that the crowd passionately sang every word to. Waterhouse has a knack for creating addictive, mood-lifting pop-rock songs even when singing about quite morose topics (cheating for this one), and her intensity was infectious.
‘My Fun’ was deemed Waterhouse’s “favourite time of the set”, as she donned another fur coat and released half a dozen beach balls into the crowd. Another absolute crowd pleaser, the funky guitars and interrupting woodwind created an upbeat, joyful ambience, and it was not hard to see why the singer enjoyed performing this track so much.
‘Dream Woman’, one of her recently released singles, slowed down the tempo again, with the singer’s vocals given the opportunity to go on full display. This was an excellent single when it was released, and the live version somehow sounded even better, with the instrumentals pared down slightly so you could hear every note that Waterhouse hit.
Following this magical moment, Suki brought out Carl Barât, member of The Libertines, and together they delivered an electric, lively performance of the band’s popular 2004 single, ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’. Waterhouse made sure Barât received the appreciation he deserved from the audience, and her admiration for the established rock bands that came before her was perfectly illustrated by this tribute.
Continuing her recognition of British rock bands, Suki covered Oasis’s infamous ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’, a performance that has become a staple of her setlist, electrifying the crowd and encouraging us all to sing along at the tops of our lungs. The energy never let up during the show, showcasing Waterhouse’s ability to captivate her audience even when performing other bands’ songs.
The final cover was ‘Sister Morphine’, a soft, stripped-back rendition of the 1969 Marianne Faithfull song. The upbeat performances of a few minutes earlier transitioned into a sombre, ethereal demonstration of Waterhouse’s hauntingly beautiful vocals, accompanied only by acoustic guitar.
The slower tempo continued with ‘Moves’, the opening track to Suki’s debut album and one of her most popular songs. Despite its slower style, the belting from the crowd and the powerful drums and guitars made this one of the standout moments from the concert. The incredibly catchy chorus kept the atmosphere electric, and you could feel the love emanating from the crowd.
‘To Love’, a powerful love ballad, saw Waterhouse move further up the stage to capture our full attention. The change in staging allowed the performance to stand out, and the singer’s angelic vocals left the entire audience completely captivated. A song meditating on love, joy, and fate, it has always been a standout track in Waterhouse’s discography and was thus given the attention it deserved.
‘Model, Actress, Whatever’ followed this expression of love and joy, another memorable performance from the artist. The slow stripped-back guitar intro allowed Suki’s breathtaking voice to shine, whilst the chorus showed off her incredible command of the stage as she moved from one side to another and encouraged the crowd to dance along with her. One of her most lyrically powerful tracks from her latest album, Suki put her all into this performance, and the crowd reacted with appropriate cheering and applause.
She then shockingly added ‘Melrose Meltdown’, one of the most impressive tracks lyric-wise on her debut album, to the setlist, to unrestrained excitement from her fans. The song was accompanied by strobe lighting, switching from blue to white as Suki built up to the chorus. A beautifully crafted song from start to finish, this was a welcome addition to the setlist.
Suki finished the night with a heartfelt rendition of ‘Coolest Place in the World’, her 2019 single that also featured on the Milk Teeth EP. The vulnerability of the lyrics lent the song a more subdued feel, shifting the mood to a more reflective one.
‘Good Looking’, always a crowd pleaser, gave Suki a final chance to demonstrate her jaw-dropping vocals, and the atmospheric, slow-paced song eased the crowd into the end of the night. The perfect closer, it truly is a brilliant song, with the singer swaying to the addictive chorus as the instrumentals play with more finality.
An incredible, joyous and tiring (in the best way) experience, Suki Waterhouse brought her all to this concert, and made me wish I could watch her all over again.
Words by Emily Nutbean
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