Sleep Theory's sell-out London debut - with support from The Pretty Wild. London O2 Forum Kentish Town - 12/02/26 - Live review

TikTok, *NSYNC, Twerking - yes, this is a night Sleep Theory!

The O2 Forum Kentish Town had the privilege of hosting Sleep Theory's first headline London show, and at a 2,000-person capacity, it's clear they will be playing bigger venues next time around! With special guests in attendance, including Sleep Theory's lead singer, Cullen Moore's father, who flew all the way from Tennessee, it was clear that this was a night to be remembered for both the band and the fans. (Photos taken on my phone from a very packed crowd, so they aren't my usual standard!)

Originally booking to play downstairs at London's The Dome, a venue with a 300-person capacity just around the corner, the band put on a show big enough to show why they were in such high demand. With upstairs balcony seating and an expansive downstairs standing floor, the venue was beyond packed, to the point that even the artists and management struggled to push through the crowd for access.

The Pretty Wild - y'allternative sisters

If you haven't listened to Las Vegas-based Metalcore band The Pretty Wild, you'll most likely still recognise their song sLeepwAlkeR due to the viral "mosh cough" trend that swept the alternative algorithm. But they are much more than a TikTok trend; the Wylde sisters put in an insane amount of energy into their screaming vocals and perfect harmonisation, even blending in flawless rap during Paradox.

Both Jyl and Jules showed unwavering confidence for a venue of that size, each working the crowd in their individual ways and taking the time to address the audience with explanations behind songs, including the importance of disconnecting from phones and digital life. The size of the crowd didn't stop them from being humble; however, after playing to a sold-out crowd, the sisters still made their way through the sea of people to meet and greet fans at the merch stand.

Sleep Theory - Metal mash up

What do you get when you mix big metal riffs, Swiftie's, smooth R&B vocals and "I sound like Chris Brown" (Moore's words!) electronic effects? Somehow! A musical masterpiece in the form of Sleep Theory.

With the stage set with video screens, intense lighting and, later on, fog cannons and confetti, it's clear that Sleep Theory never belonged in small intimate venues. The crowd roared to life at the first chord of the opening song Fallout and refused to stop their electric energy the whole way through. Moore's stage presence showed just how comfortable they are on a stage that size, clearly in his element with smooth dance moves and crowd interactions, not even being afraid to start a circle pit around himself. However, this didn't come without consequence, as he got back on stage, he pointed out to the crowd, exclaiming, "Who was the girl who was twerking on me and headbutting me? You almost knocked me out! Ima fight you!", carrying on this jokingly throughout that he was "going to get her". "We don't do all the chit chat, I'm not gonna tell you all the things you want to hear to make you like us more", however, one song later, that was a lie. Moore went on to emotionally thank his father for coming all the way from Tennessee to be at this show, along with their manager from the States, Lisa from Epitaph Records, their UK team, as well as Christina, despite her telling them not to make her emotional. The emotion carried on, Moore explaining how something as small as a 17-second video really can make big changes, transitioning into Another Way. Between the emotional moments and the heavier hooks, we got some amazing pop covers setting the crowd off to "Bye Bye Bye" and "Cruel Summer", not what you'd necessarily expect from a heavy show, but if anyone can do it, Sleep Theory can. To finish the show, they took a nod to the TikTok sensation "Static", with everyone either dancing or crowd surfing, including Moore himself as he stood on top of the crowd, holding a fan as confetti burst from the ceiling. It's pretty clear that Sleep Theory are made for big things in their career, already showing Arena-level energy and production.

Sleep Theory setlist:

1. Fallout

2. Enough

3. Parasite

4. Hourglass

5. Just a Mistake

6. Gone or Staying

7. Can You Stand the Rain - (Boyz II Men cover)

8. Bye Bye Bye - (*NSYNC cover)

9. Afterglow

10. Gravity

11. III

12. Paralyzed

13. My Heart - (Paramore cover)

14. It's Over

15. Another Way

16. Words Are Worthless

17. Cruel Summer - (Taylor Swift cover)

18. Stuck in My Head

19. Numb

20. Static