It may have been over 8 years since Madina Lake were in the UK, but this does not mean that people have forgotten them, as the room filled in The Asylum. All of us have grown up a little since first hearing 'From Them, Through Us, to You', one of my personal nostalgia albums of 2007, but the energy and buzz is still in the room.
Opening the night were New York band, Bad Luck, as well as Irish band Greywind, who self-proclaimed to be Ireland's biggest emos. Greywind provided a great mix of 80's post-punk and pop punk, with singer Steph O'Sullivan commanding the stage, and even treating the audience to a 'Valentine's Day gift', a nurse hat.
Madina Lake came out to thunderous cheers as the stage shifted and the lights went down. The band, which was comprised of twin brothers Nathan and Matthew Leone, began with hits including 'In Another Life,' 'Adalias,' and 'One Last Kiss.' There was a noticeable bond between the musicians and their fans as the crowd enthusiastically joined in, with the band barley keeping still at any moment.
The compact atmosphere of the Asylum allowed for personal interaction and increased the intensity of the show. Nathan often spoke to the audience, thanking them for their steadfast support while the band was away from the UK for eight years. He also frequently went down onto the crowd barrier either to sing, t to glance at a photo taken 13 years ago by a fan and even crowd surfed.
'House of Cards' and 'Here I Stand' went down incredibly, as many of us relate these songs to switching on Kerrang TV as teenagers and discovering the band. There were a few curveballs in the evening, two covers in particular, being Limp Bizkit's 'Nookie' and ending the set with Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'
All things considered, Madina Lake's performance at The Asylum demonstrated their timeless appeal and close relationship with their fans. Attendees were excitedly awaiting the band's next chapter after their emotional reunion and concert on the UK stage.
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