Live Review: Awolnation @ Shepherds Bush Empire

by | Jun 2, 2014

Awolnation live in London. (Simon Jay Price)

Awolnation live in London. (Simon Jay Price)

With an arm embracing a tattoo with the word Grace on  Aaron Bruno the man behind the concept of Awolnation enters the stage with a theatrical silhouette posed against the AN backdrop. Grace is the album by Jeff Buckley that was such an influence on him his songwriting and lifestyle.

Awolnation live in London. (Simon Jay Price)

Awolnation live in London. (Simon Jay Price)

Three years after its release, the sun has still to set on Awolnation’s Megalithic Symphony debut. The album and song Sail have spent over 80 weeks in the Billboard chart in the USA and there is still not sign of a follow-up. Here Sail was performed in a stripped down way and kept toward the end. His boyish demeanor and athleticism abound as the centre of the stage is kept for him alone and his band moved to either side and the back.

Awolnation live in London. (Simon Jay Price)

Awolnation live in London. (Simon Jay Price)

The pop driven Guilty Filthy Souls opened the set with the very young mainly female fronts rows joining in and chanting the chorus which in a way is also a strange juxtapose as the 35 year old singer laps up the adulation. Its Not Your Fault and unleashed in the middle of the set Kill Your Heroes were given  a heavy rock treatment by  Aaron Bruno and his live group, a style which has seen him grow his fan base through the Vans Warped Tours in the USA and UK.

Awolnation live in London. (Simon Jay Price)

Awolnation live in London. (Simon Jay Price)

The set list seems relatively sparse and his time on stage is quite short at only an hour and 20 minutes but the encore of Knights of Shame delves into all his song styles and makes you think you have had your moneys worth at least.

Awolnation live in London. (Simon Jay Price)

Awolnation live in London. (Simon Jay Price)

Photography and Review by Simon Jay Price. 30th May 2014 @ Shepherds Bush Empire, London.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000txgev43sL30″ g_name=”Awolnation-2014″ f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”600″ height=”450″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”#ffffff” bgtrans=”t” btype=”new” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”flip” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_topbar=”f” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” f_smooth=”f” f_up=”f” target=”_self” ]

Jess Ball (Press)

Jess Ball Confronts The Reality Of OCD On Powerful New Single ‘Kiddin’’

Australian alt-pop artist Jess Ball continues her emergence as one of the most intriguing new voices in the genre with the release of her latest single, Kiddin’, a deeply personal track inspired by her experiences living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

James & Steven (Sam Vermeulen)

James Bourne And Steven Sater Unveil Dark New Musical ‘Murder At The Gates’ As First Track Featuring Gaten Matarazzo Arrives

James Bourne and acclaimed playwright Steven Sater have joined forces for Murder At The Gates, a brand-new musical more than a decade in the making, with the concept album set for release on 1st July 2026.

Ferris & Sylvester (Press)

Ferris & Sylvester Confront Insecurity On New Single ‘Jealous’ Ahead Of Third Album ‘It’s A Joy To Be Alive’

Ferris & Sylvester have unveiled their latest single, Jealous, offering another heartfelt preview of their forthcoming third album It’s A Joy To Be Alive, due for release on 14th August via the duo’s own Archtop Records label.

Basht. (Polocho)

Basht. Share Powerful New Single ‘Keira Knightley’ Ahead Of Debut Album ‘Poor Advice’

Dublin’s fast-rising post-punk outfit Basht. continue their impressive ascent with the release of their latest single, Keira Knightley, the newest preview of their forthcoming debut album Poor Advice, due for release on 9th October via LAB Records.

TV Priest (Charles Gall)

TV Priest Return With Ferocious New Single ‘The Mud Never Dries’

London post-punk provocateurs TV Priest have made a powerful return with their first new music in four years, unveiling the blistering new single The Mud Never Dries.

Lzzy & Joe Unplugged @ Islington Assembly Hall (Kalpesh Patel)Lzzy & Joe Unplugged @ Islington Assembly Hall (Kalpesh Patel)

Lzzy & Joe Bring Halestorm’s Heart To London’s Islington Assembly Hall

Just days after tearing up Download Festival with the full Halestorm line-up, Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger strip everything back for a sold-out evening at Islington Assembly Hall. The result is not a quiet, polite acoustic set. Instead, Lzzy + Joe Unplugged feels like an intimate gathering where stories, songs and decades of shared history are placed front and centre.

Borderline (Tom Grut)

Borderline Announce Self-Titled Debut Album And Share Infectious New Single ‘That Girl’

Rising New Zealand quartet Borderline have unveiled details of their long-awaited debut album, Borderline, alongside the release of their vibrant new single That Girl and an accompanying music video inspired by classic Saturday morning mystery cartoons.

Blossoms (Press)

Blossoms Announce Sixth Album ‘Songs From The Wedding Cake’ And Their Biggest UK Arena Tour Yet

Stockport favourites Blossoms have unveiled details of their sixth studio album, Songs From The Wedding Cake, dropping on 2nd October. Alongside the album announcement, the band have shared the infectious new single Meet Me In Love and confirmed a major UK arena tour for late 2026 – their largest headline run to date.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing