Don Broco are one of my favourite bands, I had found their music around the Automatic era and was a very casual listener, but never saw them live until their Amazing Things album release shows.
I photographed them for the first time at the start of 2022 and just got hooked, I have since been to every London show I was able to make it to – which may be all of them, but I don’t keep track.

Southampton was first up in their Download warm-up shows, they sold out Engine Rooms in roughly 1 minute – it was a very stressful minute. To see a band of Don Brocos caliber at a venue like that is such a privilege, it’s hard to put into words how exciting it really is to be that involved, that sweaty and that psyched up for such an intense but small show.

Their shows have never disappointed me, Don Broco knows how to curate the perfect setlist, and have done so at every single show I’ve been to. From fan favourites, to their biggest hits and some deep cut throwbacks, they manage to balance the sound flawlessly.
Rock shows are always lively, you’ll find crowd surfers, mosh pits and circle pits at every Don Broco show. Southampton managed to tick all those boxes despite it being such a small venue – with a capacity of around 850.

There is just something about this band, when live, that completely reels you in. The production and staging is always great, and sometimes even a step above the everyday concert set up, from circular lighting rigs, to panels of strobes.

Rob kills the vocals each and every time, how he seamlessly flows between softer vocals, to full on screams is a talent in and of itself, the way he mans the stage and interacts with the crowd is something else, he really knows how to get people going. And I truly believe his hair alone deserves a moment too.
Each member just brings something exciting to the band, with Tom on bass, giving us those heavy soul-shaking rhythmic leads – if you’re not that into bassists or don’t feel they can sometimes fall into the background, I beg you, please pay attention to how much they direct a song. You will find a new love and appreciation for them.
To Matt on drums, leading each song through its ups and downs, ebs and flows, Matt really just takes Don Broco songs on a journey – as well as his beautiful melodies and backing vocals.
Finally, Si, the guitarist, if you ever want to see a grown, buff, bearded man do high-kicks and pirouettes like a ballerina, he is the one to watch. Guitars are the most “obvious” when it comes to a rock song, but I find that it manages to strike every emotion, it’s in the guitar heavy moments, where you feel your heart beat a little faster, or you find tears in your eyes. (Maybe that’s just me, I’m an emotional girl, who adores music.)

I could go on for hours (or pages, in this context) about this band, but I urge everyone to give Don Broco a listen, even if they’re not your vibe. Talent is talent, Don Broco embody it in every which way, and that can always be appreciated – and if you need a soft launch into them, I highly recommend ‘Further’, ‘Anaheim’ & ‘One True Prince’. Their entire first album Priorities is a little calmer overall too.

Setlist: June 10th
Everybody
Pretty
Technology
Come Out To LA
Gumshield
Uber
One True Prince
Manchester Super Reds No.1 Fan
Action
Bruce Willis
Endorphins
Superlove
You Wanna Know
Nerve
Fingernails
T-Shirt Song

Oh and whilst we’re here, ‘Uber’ has always been a political song, and for them to use it as a seamless Segway into discussing world issues, and putting the genocide that is happening in Palestine right now at the forefront of what they’re doing – as well as what’s happening in places like LA with ICE, I only hope they do the same on Downloads bigger stages.

View a full gallery of the show – here! But be kind, I experimented with a full black & white gallery for the first time to see how I feel about it.