The American band Cigarettes After Sex were in town on the 12th and 13th November 2024, playing two sold-out shows at the O2 Arena as part of their X’s tour.
The band is currently on tour promoting their new album, X’s, and their jam-packed tour schedule is set to conclude in March 2025, playing 64 shows in total over a six-month span.
They had just been in Cologne before arriving in the UK, and are heading off to France afterwards to play shows in Paris and Lyon.
The group was formed in 2008 in Texas, and currently comprises Greg Gonzalez (lead vocals and guitar), Randall Miller (bass), and Jacob Tomsky (drums).
Known for their signature synth-pop dreamy indie sound, Gonzalez’s distinctive soft vocals, as well as their lyrics touching on love and heartbreak, they have resonated particularly with younger audiences in recent years due to several of their songs, such as Apocalypse and Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby, gaining traction on TikTok.
Their concert on 13th November at the O2 Arena boasted incredible production value with an impressive use of stage lighting effects emphasising the dreamy feel of their music, as well as the cinematic live streaming of the performers on the screens.
The band played 18 songs in their 115-minute long show, with ethereal displays when the crowd whipped out their smartphone flashlights to sway along to the choruses of crowd favourites, most notably, Sunsetz and Sweet.
The performance hit a high when the trio played the opening notes to Apocalypse – the crowd erupted in cheers and hoots, and the audience was the most energetic and enthusiastic they had been all night.
This night left everyone in attendance mesmerised and in awe, and concertgoer Kelly, who attended the gig with her sibling, said that it was a “truly magical experience to watch (the band) perform live after listening to their songs for years”.
