The Home Team’s biggest headline show to date was always going to be a special occasion, but their Halloween performance at Carlswerk Victoria in Cologne on 31 October was something truly memorable. Part of their The Crucible of Life European Tour 2026, the show featured support from True North and Arrows in Action, bringing three bands together for an evening filled with Halloween spirit, infectious energy and seemingly endless crowdsurfing.
The concert marked a major milestone for The Home Team, whose Cologne show had been upgraded from Club Volta to the larger Carlswerk Victoria as demand grew. The Seattle-based band have steadily built their reputation through their distinctive blend of heavy guitars, catchy pop melodies and funky rhythms, a sound often described ad heavy pop.
Their latest full-length studio album, The Crucible of Life, was released in July 2024, followed by a deluxe edition in 2025. The European tour gave fans the chance to experience the album’s material in a headline setting. But the band are already looking ahead to their next chapter. During the Carlswerk Victoria show, lead singer Brian Butcher revealed that the band have completed their new album and are eager to share it with the world very soon.
The evening began with True North and Arrows in Action, both helping to build anticipation for the headliners. Arrows in Action also provided one of the funniest moments of the night. The band joked about having previously toured the United States with The Home Team, particularly Jacksonville, Florida, where they had played shows in front of absolutely nobody. When a fan shouted “I love Jacksonville!” from the crowd, the band immediately burst out laughing. The fan turned out to be from Jacksonville himself, making the exchange even better.
Once The Home Team took the stage, the atmosphere reached another level. Crowdsurfing became a defining feature of the show, with fans making their way over the audience throughout the set. The Halloween setting added an extra layer of excitement to an already special occasion and the energy inside the venue rarely let up.
The band’s bassist, Ryne Olson, also deserves special mention. Having injured his leg during one of the previous shows on the tour, he nevertheless gave everything he had on stage. Even jumping on one leg, he continued to perform with the same energy and enthusiasm, refusing to let the injury get in the way of delivering a memorable show.
The setlist was another major highlight. The band gave fans plenty of opportunities to hear their favourites alongside material from The Crucible of Life. Standouts included the explosive opener ‘Turn You Off’, the infectious ‘Brag’ and the fan favourite ‘Right Through Me’. ‘Roommates’ and ‘Fashion Forward’ kept the energy high, while ‘Somebody Else’s Face’ and ‘Watching All Your Friends Get Rich’ demonstrated the band’s ability to combine heavy instrumentation with memorable melodies.
The set also featured ‘All Squeezed Out’ with Victor Viramontes-Pattison from Arrows in Action, a fitting crossover that brought the evening full circle. Having shared difficult moments together in the past, both bands felt especially grateful to be able to celebrate this achievement side by side. As The Home Team’s biggest headline performance yet, the Cologne show was a celebration of how far they have come together and a glimpse of just how much further they can go.
The tour now continues to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom in November, with most dates already sold out. The European leg wraps up in Leeds on 11 November, so there’s still plenty of time to catch the bands live. If you haven’t got your tickets yet, now’s the time to grab them!
