REVIEW: Don Broco @ Brighton Music Hall 9/12

By Maggie Leone

Hailing from Bedford, England, Don Broco took the stage Thursday night at a sold-out Brighton Music Hall on the first stop of their North American tour – the band’s first ever US headlining tour.  That’s right, Don Broco’s North American debut headlining show was played in Allston. In past performances, the band has showcased an incredible, contagious energy; this show drew from that and multiplied it by one hundred. Very few bands have the power to transform a room into a whirlwind of excitement quite as efficiently as Rob Damiani, Tom Doyle, Matt Donnelly, and Si Delaney.

According to vocalist Damiani, Boston set a very high bar for the remainder of the tour; based on previous visits to the city, he proclaimed that shows here are “always the sickest.”  Hopefully they appreciated the reaction from the crowd throughout the whole show but especially during their new single “Action,” which made its live US debut. The single artwork of electric tune provided influence for the tapestry behind Matt Donnelly’s drumkit: the words “don broco” and action figure inspired images of the band members.  (The wild new video for the single premiered last week and features some scene favorites, such as Tilian Pearson of Dance Gavin Dance.)

The opening bands – Selfish Things, The Home Team, and Sleep On It – prepared the crowd for the adventure ahead.  Their punk, emo, and rock influences came together perfectly to create an intensely fun atmosphere. The Boston date fell on Sleep On It’s guitarist Teddy Horansky’s birthday, so naturally the band performed with party hats and glittery crowns.  But that is not the only celebration in order – they released a new album, Pride & Disaster, at midnight after the show!

Always the greatest pleasure to experience a Don Broco concert – here’s to an excellent first North American tour and to many, many more.