THE HOME TEAM PROVE THEY'RE THE MAIN EVENT (EVEN WHEN THEY'RE NOT HEADLINING)

Some bands just make you feel something deep in your soul. The Home Team? They make you feel like you’re in a high-energy montage scene of a coming-of-age film where everything is going right for once.

This Seattle-based four-piece has coined the term “heavy pop” to describe their genre-blending sound, and honestly, it fits perfectly. It’s the kind of music that makes you want to scream along at the top of your lungs, bust out a dance move or two, and maybe shed a single, dramatically slow tear of joy.

Now, full disclosure—The Home Team holds a special place in my heart. They were one of my lockdown artists (aka: the bands that kept me from losing my mind during the you-know-what times), so seeing them live was already set up to be a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for me. But I wasn’t prepared for just how damn fun they were.

From the second they hit the stage at O2 Kentish Town Forum, I had a ridiculous grin plastered across my face. Every single member brought their own flavor of chaotic brilliance, and despite being there to actually cover the set, I was very much dancing like nobody (or, well, everybody) was watching.

Setlist? Banger after banger. They kicked things off with Brag—which, honestly, rightfully so, because they should be bragging about how good they are. Right Through Me and Love & Co followed, setting the energy levels high enough to power the entire city grid.

Now, special shoutout time. Guitarist John Baran and bassist Ryne Olson - Absolute menaces in the best way possible. Not only did they keep the energy sky-high, but they also kept the crowd laughing between songs with their top-tier stage presence and banter.

As we hit the home stretch with Somebody Else’s Face, Walk This World With Me, Watching All Your Friends Get Rich, and the anthemic closer Loud, it was clear that The Home Team had just converted every single person in that room. By the time the final notes rang out, my face hurt from smiling, my feet hurt from dancing, and my brain hurt from trying to process just how good that set was.

To sum it up? 10/10 No notes. The Home Team didn’t just perform; they commanded that stage, and honestly, they could’ve headlined. Can we get them back in the UK for their own tour ASAP? Asking for, well… everyone.

Set List:

Brag, Right Through Me, Love & co, Slow Bloom, She's quiet, Hell Overtime, Move It or Lose It, Somebody Else's Face, Walk This World With Me, Watching All Your Friends Get Rich, Loud.