Echo and the Bunnymen at Shepherd’s Bush Empire

In the 40 years since their formation in Liverpool, Echo and the Bunnymen have established themselves as one of the most critically acclaimed bands of their cohort that came up amid punk and new wave. And while the youthful energy and novelty of that era may have been exchanged for nostalgia now it’s 2022, they’re still more than capable of putting on a show that would put many of their younger contemporaries to shame.  

The group, now a duo consisting of frontman Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Sergeant, certainly packed out the Shepherd’s Bush Empire, with McCulloch sending a crowd who filled not only the stalls but the open-fronted bar into uproarious cheers as he emerged. After opening with early tracks like Going Up, Show of Strength, and All That Jazz, there was a diversion into later fare in Flowers, before the first true anthemic hit of the evening with Bring on the Dancing Horses.

McCulloch’s voice was in agelessly fine fettle – despite his having always enjoyed his rockstar life, he is no burnout past his best. Seven Seas was another hit that got the crowd going, but what really made Echo and the Bunnymen stand out was the depth and consistency of their set; this is not a veteran band where the fans come for the one or two hits still on the Absolute Radio rotation and begrudgingly hum along to new or inferior material. 

Eventually, though the inevitable climax did come with immense renditions of Nothing Lasts Forever and Lips like Sugar, which had the crowd rammed in at pre-pandemic levels dancing. But of course it wasn’t quite the end: during a two-part encore the audience was treated to The Cutter, and Echo and the Bunnymen’s most famous hit, The Killing Moon.

The latter sums up what makes Echo and the Bunnymen a special group: it can be bellowed along to by a crowd who remember its first time, but, in part thanks to its status as a staple of film soundtracks (most notably Donnie Darko), it has resonated down the years and maintained an emotional connection with younger music fans whose tastes may be far from McCulloch and company’s origins.

Mark Worgan
Photos: Nick Bennett

For further information and future events visit Echo and the Bunnymen’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Bring on the Dancing Horses here: