Night Out at Keo

Photo Credits: Marina Rambelli

At 19, I’ve never fallen in love with a person. However, I did fall in love with KEO at first sight, or rather, first hearing. The moment I heard "That’s Me" a few months back, thanks to local files on Spotify, I was hooked.

That’s why, as soon as I heard KEO would be coming to my city, I got those tickets faster than I’ve ever run to a barricade. I’d been to the venue before for Basht in October, and knowing the size of it, I couldn’t have been happier. In my opinion, there’s something special about a small, intimate gig that no huge shows can replicate.

When Bleech 9:3 were announced as support, I couldn’t believe my luck. I love that band so much that I even have their lyrics tattooed on me, and I’ve followed the members ever since the early Basht days.

Finally, the day of the gig arrived. Around 2pm a queue started forming outside the venue. Because of its size, there was no back entrance, meaning those of us waiting outside got lucky enough to see both bands several times throughout the day and watch all the equipment being hauled in.

As mentioned, Bleech 9:3 opened the night, and I haven’t seen that kind of energy from a support act in a long time. Their set brought pure mosh-pit energy and quite literally warmed us up before KEO took the stage. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, their final song, "Ceiling”, had to be cut from the setlist.

KEO opened with the lesser-known “Be Happy”, yet the crowd was hooked from the very first note. By the second song, "Hands"—which is, in my opinion, the greatest KEO song—everyone was completely under Finn’s spell.

What makes KEO special is how differently each member approaches stage presence, yet together they create perfect harmony. Jimmy moves with such energy that I genuinely thought he was going to crash into an amp at any moment, while Finn’s brother Connor was so effortlessly cool that you’d think he was playing in an entirely different band.

The band closed with "I Lied Amber," and hearing it live was bittersweet. On one hand, I got to experience this masterpiece in person on the other, I knew the night was coming to an end.

About 30 minutes after the show, the band took the time to sign setlists and take photos with those of us who had stayed behind. Moments like that are a reminder of why small gigs are so special.

It’s safe to say that KEO are a band that have made a statement, and I have no doubt they’ll remain a force in the indie scene for years to come.