Letlive. at Electric Ballroom, London 2025

Letlive.’s show at the Electric Ballroom in London on July 10, 2025, was one of those gigs that people will talk about for years. The band hasn’t played a proper UK show in ages, and from the moment doors opened, the energy in the room was electric, and it never dipped, not once. The venue, packed wall to wall, buzzed with anticipation long before the house lights dimmed.

Native James

Opening duties fell to Native James, a relatively new name on the UK alt scene but one that made a powerful impression. Their sound, melding emotive lyricism with crunchy, riff-heavy guitars and slick dynamic shifts, felt perfectly suited to this crowd. Their songs carried a weight that was impossible to ignore, and they managed to earn a roar of applause from a crowd that had come with one band in mind.

Last Hounds

After them, Last Hounds came out swinging. Their mix of hardcore punk and groovy breakdowns got the pit moving almost immediately, and it didn’t stop. Their energy was relentless, feeding off the crowd’s growing intensity and throwing it right back in explosive bursts. While only a support act in name, Last Hounds played like headliners, warming the audience up not just physically, but emotionally, preparing everyone for what was to come.

Letlive.

Then the lights dimmed, Letlive. walked out and exploded straight into “Le Prologue”. It was instantly clear that they had lost none of their potency, and Jason Aalon Butler came flying across the stage like he’d been storing this energy for the last eight years. He was climbing on monitors, throwing himself around, getting in people’s faces, and it was completely magnetic. His voice flipped effortlessly between throat-ripping screams and soul-drenched clean vocals, an almost gospel tone he’s known for, and each phrase hits with surgical precision. He poured everything into every line, and the band behind him was just as tight.

The setlist was packed with heavy hitters: stuff from Fake History, The Blackest Beautiful, and even a couple of deep cuts that fans lost their minds over. “Renegade 86’”, “Banshee (Ghost Fame)”, and “Muther” were especially massive. People were shouting every word, stage diving, and starting spontaneous pits every few minutes. But Letlive. has always been a band that trades in emotion as much as aggression, and that depth was on full display during slower, more introspective moments like “Pheromone Cvlt” and “27 Club”. They brought a gravity that made everything feel personal. The crowd swayed, some people just stood still and closed their eyes; it was that kind of vibe. You could feel how much this band meant to people.

Behind Butler, the rest of the band brought a level of tightness and technical command that elevated the entire performance. Guitarists Jean Nascimento and Jeff Sahyoun wove jagged riffs with fluid transitions, seamlessly switching between hardcore chaos and melodic passages. The new rhythm section (Skyler Acord on bass and Sage Webber on drums) brought serious power and presence to the lineup, locking into grooves that were both punchy and complex. Skyler was bouncing around with a massive grin, and Sage’s drumming was ridiculously precise while still keeping that chaotic Letlive. edge. The chemistry was tight, but loose where it needed to be, while the sound mix was loud but clear, with every instrument punching through just right.

What made the night truly remarkable, however, wasn’t just the musicianship, but it was the sense of purpose. During a quieter moment in the set, Jason paused to address the crowd; not to preach, but to share. He talked about how dark things had gotten after the band ended, about how he didn’t know if he’d ever make it back to a stage. It’s no secret that he has spoken openly over the years about his battles with mental health, about how music has been both a lifeline and a battlefield for him. That vulnerability has always been a part of Letlive.’s music, but live, it hits even harder. You could see it in his eyes between songs, in the way he delivered lyrics like they were the last thing he’d ever say. There’s something powerful about watching someone wrestle with their past and emotions in real time, and Jason doesn’t hold anything back.

A few songs later, he appeared on the second-floor balcony of the venue. The crowd spotted him just as he shouted a line into the mic and launched himself into the air, landing on a wave of outstretched arms below. It was one of those moments that didn’t feel rehearsed or performative. It was pure instinct, the kind of wild, unfiltered release that Letlive. built their reputation on. The room exploded, and the Electric Ballroom was the perfect place for it, too. It’s big enough to feel like a real show, but still small enough that you’re right there with the band.

They wrapped up the set with “Day 54”, which felt like the only way to end it. A song that really captured what the band’s all about, with raw emotion, intense energy, and a no-nonsense push for honesty. The place went off one last time, people screaming the final chorus like their lives depended on it. After that, Jason stood silently at the edge of the stage, just looking out over the crowd, clearly overwhelmed. No dramatic farewell, no overblown gesture, but just a quiet moment of reflection that said more than words could.

All in all, Letlive.’s return was everything fans hoped for. Native James and Last Hounds both killed it, setting the stage for a night that felt historic. Whether this was a one-time comeback or the start of something new, it didn’t matter. No one walked out of the Electric Ballroom the same way they walked in. Letlive. reminded us how to feel again, and it was unforgettable.