Cigarettes After Sex take on London’s O2 Arena
The band sold-out two nights at The O2.
Photo: Isla Kerr
As swarms of eager fans dressed head to toe in black ran towards the pinnacle of London venues, The O2 Arena, the tone was set for an evening of ethereal music. Two sold-out nights at The O2 are no mean feat and something that even a band like Cigarettes After Sex should be congratulated on.
It’s been seven years since the release of their self-titled debut album and, while their sound has never strayed too far from the path of its origin, their fan base has continued to grow and evolve as the years pass. This evening those closest to the front have been queuing since the small hours of the morning to snag a spot near the dream-sounding band.
It makes sense for a band as aesthetically focused as Cigarettes After Sex to have no support act tonight. It allows them to control the mood entirely and they did exactly that with a lowly-lit stage and minimal talking between tracks. The stripped-back, dark stage layout allowed each member to be lit in a spotlight at numerous parts throughout the evening. A beautiful mist rolled across the stage for new album X’s track, Tejano Blue.
Each song was welcomed by the crowd as if it were an all-out classic. Sesame Syrup in particular received a massive cheer and was sung word for word by almost everyone in the room.
Greg Gonzalez used the walkway in front of the main stage to get closer to the crowd and even gave out a few guitar picks to smiling faces near the front.
As the night approaches its end an uncountable number of phones are raised to record and store Cry for months and years to come. Sweet was sung word for word before Apocalypse drew the night to a sentimental close.
Cigarettes After Sex are a timeless band. You are transported to another space by their music. It is not the kind commonly associated with two sold-out arena nights but it most certainly holds its own outside of the teenage bedrooms it was once synonymous with.
All photos by Isla Kerr.