London is often graced by a variety of international musicians. It is simply one of the perks of living in such a vibrant city where every evening most people can find something to do that perfectly fits their interests. Sunday night at The Lexington was no different. It was the curated night for fans of punk dipped in 80s sounds and textures, marking it the final date of the European tour for the Canadian band Home Front.
The opening acts were solid but they could not match the energy of the headliners. From the moment I spotted Home Front’s bassist walk out from backstage with a glass of red wine I knew this show would be something special. The band was cool just as I imagined them to be. Their sophomore album Watch it Die ended up in a high place of my personal list of 2025 best releases and Sunday’s live performance confirmed that I made the right decision to include them on it. As The Lexington’s loft filled up I stood by the side of the stage and felt the pressure of people closing in from all directions. We all locked arms in arms and patently waited.
This Canadian outfit of renegades cleverly mixes cryptic messages with jolly danceable synths and riffs that get you boogying side to side. They reflect on our daily lives that are often filled with a similar juxtaposition of emotions such as fear and happiness mixed with exhilaration and fear. The joy on people’s faces was intense as they screamed the lyrics out, making it almost feel like a collective karaoke. The buzzing pub downstairs must have heard us all stomping above their heads.
Writing about music can be difficult especially when trying to describe the essential aspect of each show, the omnipresent “energy”. We often try to describe it and help you grasp what the sounds have created in the room full of people, how it elevated the night and in what way influenced crowds behaviour. Songs have capabilities to encapsulate these unforgettable memories, making it a soundtrack to a good time. Home Front is one of those bands that acts like a portable power plant wherever they go, triggering wild Saturday night fever dreams. Their vocalist is an animal on stage and he does not stop. When I say he does not stop, I genuinely mean it. He gives every single member of the crowd his attention while staying attentive and inviting you to be part of the show. The countless high jumps and the mid-air pirouettes and the full embodiment of the sounds and lyrics are what keep you high. It was a sweaty evening but oh so joyous.
Instrumentally Home Front mixes wonderful punk sounds with vintage synths creating a concoction resembling the likes of The Cure and Eurythmics. They are that lovely crossover band where the punks can come for a chill night and the alt scene comes for an exhilarating, intense one. The passion could be felt from all directions and song after song was played with flamboyance and grace and a genuine love. My only wish is that we had at least one brave crowd surfer. Come on London you could have done better in that respect even if it was a Sunday night. Home Front earned it.
If you have never given them a chance now is the time, what are you waiting for?