A Perfect Circle Live at the O2 Academy Brixton Concert Review

A Perfect Circle Live at the O2 Academy, Brixton

21/6/2018

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A great show that had it all.

Venue:

O2 Academy, Brixton

Date:

13th of June 2018

Live Acts:

A Perfect Circle
Talos

It’s been 16-17 years since I first listened to A Perfect Circle’s Mer de Noms and decided I need to see the band that created this amazing music. And only now have I finally completed that mission, but like the old phrase “good things come to those who wait” I definitely did my time here and was rewarded with one of the best shows I’ve ever seen in my life. Only two bands have a chance of topping this: Slipknot and Tool.

On the back of the success of their recent release Eat The Elephant, APC decided to take to the road to share their creation with the world, the choice for London? Brixton’s O2 Academy. The show sold out that fast they had to book a second for the following night (with those tickets being snapped up almost immediately) and the band are coming back again at the end of the year to do Wembley Arena, such is the demand they hold.

Two things, wish I was going to this and... fuck London's streets are filthy.

There was a support act, Talos, but we missed them as Mags and I decided to have a mini date night in the pub beforehand. After a few cheeky pints and some of the best chips we’ve had in ages at the Queens Head near the venue (the barmaid makes some awesome Aperol Spritz too), we entered the hallowed ground that is Brixton Academy and found ourselves a decent vantage point and waited. What came next will stay with me forever.

The lights went out, the opening notes of ‘Eat The Elephant’ hit the speakers and we all went nuts… for just a few moments, the band took their places in the darkness while the crowd as a whole fell in to a quiet haze, all eyes were on the stage and nothing could rip them away. The lighting was set up in a way that all the band besides lead singer Maynard were covered in an ever changing glow while he stood at the back in near darkness belting out song after song.

"It was the night I imagined all those years ago and then some."

The set list was amazing, 19 tracks spanning their entire career, 7 from Eat The Elephant, 4 from The Thirteenth Step, 3 covers, 3 from Mer de Noms and one each from eMotive and aMotion. Featuring songs we all wanted to hear and sing to, such as ‘The Hollow’, the haunting ‘Weak and Powerless’ and my favourite version of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’.

Of course I stole this, I intend to find Maynard and get him to sign it.

It was the night I imagined all those years ago and then some. It’s just a shame that I couldn’t take a picture to commemorate the evening due to the camera ban at all Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer gigs thanks to the common denominator, Maynard James Keenan. But even without a quick snap (which in that lighting would have looked shit), I still have my memories, which is what a great band does to their fans on a good night, send them home with mental images that will last a lifetime.

9.9/10

Written by the humbled Dan.

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