Coach Party concluded the UK leg of their Caramel album tour at The Engine Rooms in Southampton, before they head off for ten dates in Europe, USA and Canada through February and April. The ten night UK run ended just across the water from the Isle of Wight band’s home, giving the show a hometown feel; many in the audience having seen the band grow in local, grassroots venues.
Walking onto the stage to The Prodigy (“Smack My Bitch Up”) gave an indication of the energy Coach Party were about to unleash, kicking off with “Do It For Love,” the first track off the new album, Caramel, setting an emotional tempo to the night. The seventeen song set mixed tracks from the latest album, with back-catalogue favourites including “What’s The Point in Life” and “FLAG”, and the band’s latest release “Nurse Depression.” The final song “Girls!” from the new album was performed partially in the pit by lead singer Jess, fully connecting with the crowd.
Outside it was raining, cold, and there was train disruption to travel plans, but inside the indie-rock energy was high, raw, and celebratory. The band, Jess Eastwood, Steph Norris, Guy Page and Joe Perry, are no strangers to playing shows beyond the UK, including a huge show at the Stade de France opening for Indochine, and we wish them all the best for the next leg of the Caramel tour.
Coach Party invited submissions of fans’ favourite bands from the local area to support them on each night of the UK tour, making the choices after hours of listening to all the recommendations. For the Southampton leg, Moon Machine and Cowboyy warmed up the crowd nicely.
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Photos and words by Tony Palmer (Website, Instagram, TikTok).
