When the doors of The O2 Academy in Islington, London, swing open, the queue seems to inch forward slower than the minute hand of a clock. Yet, amidst the languid pace, the palpable buzz trumps the trudge, as an eclectic mix of individuals shares their anticipation of catching Filter live. Some express that they’ve been waiting so long that their morning cereal boxes used to bear words like ‘sugar’ and ‘pow’ and sported some crazed mascot on the cover. Now, it’s ‘fibre’, ‘wheat’, with a little maze on the back where they help coco the monkey find his insulin. Despite Filter‘s thirty-year career, it’s evident they’ve still to perform live for a significant faction of their fan base, seldom touring this side of the pond, and turning what might have been an ordinary, rainy Saturday night in London into one brimming with high hopes.

Hailing from France, Switzerland, and the U.K, support act Belmondo is a hybrid outfit boasting a cauldron of styles and influences in their sound. Industrial samples subtly pepper a foundation of grunge, all cocooned in a gothic aesthetic. As Belmondo delves into their set, seamlessly swapping instruments and vocal duties, they exude a blend of absolute vulnerability and vulgarity, song after song. With each passing track, their performance deepens the allure, particularly evident in their latest offering, Bethlehem, where singer and bassist/guitarist Carmen Mellino weaves a captivating web impossible to escape. Simply put, when Belmondo shakes your hand, they bring your whole arm along for the ride.

In a palette of moody purples and blues, Filter emerges on stage, their figures cast as enigmatic silhouettes. For the unacquainted, it might raise an eyebrow or two; for die-hard fans, it’s par for the course. Filter‘s legacy has always been their unwavering quality, spearheaded by frontman and chief architect Richard Patrick. With a meticulously curated setlist, Filter guides the audience through a journey spanning their illustrious career. From the pulsating industrial onslaught of For the Beaten off their latest opus The Algorithm to the soul-soothing balladry of Surprise, every song feels like a carefully chosen gem. Take a Picture serves as a poignant reminder to seize the fleeting moments, evoking tears and nostalgia in equal measure. Tracks like What Do You Say, Can’t You Trip Like I Do, and the anthemic closer Hey Man Nice Shot propel the atmosphere to electric heights, leaving security scrambling to contain the euphoria within the confines of the venue.

As the evening comes to an end and the London audience spills back out into the rainy streets, one thing feels abundantly clear: each night with Filter is a unique experience unto itself. No replication, no mimicry—just raw echoes of a performance that gets carried off into the night. If this tour comes to a town near you and you need a reason to get up in the morning, this is the best kind of one.