Honey Revenge, Rain City Drive and Belmont at Electric Ballroom - Live Review

Electric Ballroom in Camden, London hosted an unforgettable SOLD OUT night on January 31st, featuring a double headline set by Honey Revenge and Rain City Drive, with support from Belmont. Each band brought a unique sound and energy and dedicated fans there to see each performance.

Electric Ballroom is a legendary venue in Camden, London known for its intimate 1500 person capacity. It may have been a cold, wet night but the queue flowed down Camden's iconic high-street with fans of each alternative and post-hardcore band buzzing.

The layout of the ballroom allowed for close interaction between the bands and the audience (which Honey Revenge would make the most of with singing in amongst the crowd and even starting a conga-line!), which added to the intensity of the sets. The stage lighting complement each band's different style, shifting from moody blues and purples to fiery reds and pinks.

Belmont’s Energetic Opening Set

Belmont, the bouncy band from Chicago, kicked off the night with an intense energy filled set. Their blend of melodic hardcore and pop-pink emo influences had fans old and new bouncing on their feet . It was evident that some in the crowd where there for Belmont despite them not being one of the headliners and they made sure to chant along with the vocals.

Highlights from Belmont’s set included tracks “In the Sky” and “Pushing Daisies” where the lead vocalist Taz Johnson gave his all with his vocals as well as stage presence. Mosh pits were encouraged, and fans didn't hold back!

Honey Revenge’s Powerful Mid-Show Performance

Los Angeles based Honey Revenge have raised through the ranks quickly and its easy to see why! Their sound, a bright mix of alternative pop and rock brings a colourful melodic soundtrack to intense emotional lyrics performed by a band with a captivating chemistry that will leave you wanting to be besties. Don't let Devin Papadol's feminine energy deceive you, she still had the crowd splitting for a wall of death mid-set!

From the first chord of “Risk,” it was clear Honey Revenge had prepared a set that balanced intensity with melody. The band’s chemistry was evident, Donovan Lloyd's constant smile and interactions with other members made it impossible to turn your eyes away from the stage.

Standout moments included a performance of the new unreleased track "Hot Commodity" which was well received by the crowd, and the latest release "Poison Apple Baby" being screamed back by the crowd as Papadol made a call and response for the chorus.

Honey Revenge know how to work a crowd whilst not letting stage presence take away from musical performance.

Rain City Drive’s Captivating Headline Set

Florida based Rain City Drive took the stage with an immediately commanding presence. Known for their dynamic sound that mixes post-hardcore aggression with melodic hooks, they were a perfect blend of the two previous acts.

The band immediately had the audience hooked, with "Concrete Closure" being chanted back from the audience . Their sound was polished but still retained a raw edge, with tight guitar riffs and driving drum beats. Matt McAndrew's vocal range remained impressive throughout the set, shifting between harsh screams and clean vocals.

Rain City Drive’s setlist balanced new material with fan favourites, the audience energy remaining high throughout the entire set, peaking during the final songs, with an abundance of crowd surfers,

The Crowd and Atmosphere

Throughout each set, the crowd’s enthusiasm never waned, each band was showered with love. The mosh pits were constant, crowd surfers were encouraged and the crowd were respectful to the artists .

The venue’s sound system ensured clarity with both vocals and instruments for each band, ensuring clean and consistent performances. The colourful lighting enhanced the mood without being overwhelming or drowning out the bands.

The Merch tables were consistently busy, with fans eager to take home t-shirts and posters as well as conversing with one another. A fantastic night of live music bringing people together.