Despite the chilly Thursday evening, fans eagerly lined up outside Highbury and Islington’s iconic venue, The Garage. Dressed in hoodies and T-shirts, they were waiting to catch the legendary Madina Lake. While waiting to get in, I struck up a conversation with another photographer, and it quickly became clear that most of us were there as listeners from the mid-2000s—including myself. We exchanged fond memories of those days, and I couldn’t help but recall the image of a teenage me, endlessly listening to ‘Here I Stand’ on repeat as I walked to school.
Once inside, it wasn’t long before the first support act, NYC’s Bad Luck, took to the smoky, backlit stage (which, to be fair, made things a bit tricky for the photographers!). They kicked off with ‘Wish We Still Talked,’ before seamlessly transitioning into ‘Love Song’ and ‘Noise in Your Head.’ While lead singer Dom remained close to the mic, bassist Joe was the driving force of energy, rallying the crowd throughout their set. They powered through an 8-track discography, including ‘Cold Bones’ named after their 2014 Album, a personal favourite ‘Willoughby,’ and ended with ‘Impressive Depressive.’
Not long after was the Irish rock band Greywind. There’s no denying that Steph O’Sullivan has an incredible presence on stage and paired with the enthusiasm of her brother, Paul, the energy was infectious. They started with the catchy ‘Medicine,’ with Steph’s powerhouse vocals taking centre stage. She kept the crowd hyped for the other acts and introduced ‘Swing and Sway’ from their upcoming 2024 EP Antidote. After some playful banter with the crowd, including a lighthearted moment involving a tiny nurse hat. “Do you like my hat?” she says into the mic which I can’t help but laugh at. The set rounds off with ‘Deathwish’, ‘Antidote’ and then finally ‘Afterthoughts’ which Steph says is both “good and bad news” because while it’s bad that it’s their last song, the plus is that Madina Lake is up next.
As the lights dimmed, the energy in the venue shot through the roof when Madina Lake took to the stage. They wasted no time kicking things off with ‘Love is War,’ and it became immediately apparent that lead singer Nathan had lost none of his signature charisma and energy—barefoot as ever. As Nathan speaks, it’s clear that the band is happy to be back in the UK as he mentions that it’s been 8 years. Nathan also introduces the band with Matthew as “(…)my twin brother”, Mateo as “(…) my best friend” and Chris as “(…) my other best friend”. It was clear that the love between the band members was as strong as ever.
Madina Lake then treated the crowd to a selection of fan-favourite tracks from their seminal 2007 album From Them, Through Us, To You, including ‘In Another Life,’ ‘Adalia,’ ‘One Last Kiss,’ and ‘House of Cards’, along with ‘Now or Never.’ The atmosphere reached its peak when the band released giant balloons filled with confetti, filling the small venue with vibrant bursts of colour, much to the crowd’s delight.
Nathan continued to bounce around the stage, periodically stepping over the photo pit to balance on the barrier, even throwing himself into the crowd for a mini crowd surf all while still managing to sing on tune.
After singing ‘Let’s Get Outta Here’, the band treated us to a fantastic, high-energy cover of ‘Nookie’ by Limp Bizkit and as I was standing near the back by the bar watching, it was clear that the older fans enjoyed this choice very much. They then followed this up with their well-known track ‘Pandora’, album track ‘Stars’ and big 2007 hit ‘Here I Stand’. The audience belted out the lyrics and it was clear that I’m not the only person basking in the nostalgia. Madina Lake then ended their set with a trio of ‘True Love’, ‘Me vs. the World’ and ‘Welcome to Oblivion’ from their 2009 album Attics to Eden.
It was a night steeped in nostalgia, but also full of fresh energy as each band brought their unique flair to the stage. Madina Lake’s return to the UK after eight years felt like a homecoming, and they showed they still have what it takes to capture the hearts of fans, old and new. As the final notes faded, it was clear that for many in the crowd, this concert wasn’t just a trip down memory lane—it was a reaffirmation that great music stands the test of time.
Written by: Chiara Fulgoni
Photographed by: Chiara Fulgoni
Edited by: Ilse Muis
