Live Review: Deaf Havana Claim the Crown at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire with a Triumphant Full-Album Revival

There is a distinct, electric kind of magic that fills the iconic tiers of the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire when a band returns to look back on the record that changed everything (mind you, this is one of the best albums ever - in my opinion).

For Deaf Havana, playing their breakthrough album Fools and Worthless Liars in its entirety felt less like a standard anniversary performance and more like a collective catharsis for thousands of fans who have grown up alongside them. From the moment the band stepped out under the lights, the atmosphere was charged with pure nostalgia, transforming the historic London venue into an intimate time capsule of early-2010s alternative rock.

Opening with the classic sequence of the album from start to finish, the crowd eagerly took on second-vocalist duties without a moment of hesitation. Tracks like "Leeches" and "Little White Lies" sent immediate ripples through the floorboards of the Empire, with James Veck-Gilodi’s distinctive, emotionally raw vocals cutting through the room with crystal clarity. Meanwhile, regional storytelling peaks like "Hunstanton Pier" (after all these years this song still makes me emotional) and "Nelson’s County" brought that trademark Norfolk heritage to the capital, pulling every single voice in the room into a unified chorus. Hearing deep cuts like "Caro Padre", which seamlessly built from soft, melancholic keys into a towering, full-band rock finale, served as a vivid reminder of just how carefully crafted and timeless that record remains over a decade later.

If the full-album play-through was a celebration of where Deaf Havana solidified their identity, the second half of the night was a wild, celebratory trip across the rest of their celebrated discography. The band effortlessly ripped through post-album fan favorites including "22", "Everybody’s Dancing and I Want To Die", and modern stadium-shakers like "Fever" and "Happiness". The undeniable high point of the night came as a total shock to older supporters in attendance: a surprise guest appearance by former vocalist Ryan Mellor to blast out "Friends Like These". The surge of raw energy in the room during those few minutes was nothing short of visceral, serving as a heartwarming throwback to the band's earliest post-hardcore origins.

Deaf Havana have always famously worn their hearts on their sleeves, but inside Shepherd’s Bush Empire, that vulnerability felt truly massive. By delivering an immaculate, powerhouse play-through of Fools and Worthless Liars alongside a masterclass encore of career-spanning hits, the night stood as a triumphant testament to the band’s incredible endurance, stellar songwriting quality, and unbreakable connection with their audience.

Words by Sal F. and Photo by @gianspeaking