Trash Boat’s Unforgettable Anniversary Show at KOKO
Celebrating ten years of Nothing I Write You Can Change What You’ve Been Through, Trash Boat returned to London’s KOKO for a night that brought together the band’s pop-punk beginnings and their heavier, more experimental modern sound. With Beauty School and Dream State opening proceedings, the Camden venue hosted a bill that showcased the continuing strength of the UK alternative scene.
Beauty School opened the night with their melodic alternative-rock sound, warming up the growing crowd and setting the tone for what was to come. Dream State followed, turning up the intensity with their signature blend of atmospheric melodies, crushing riffs and powerful vocals. Despite the barricade separating the stage from the audience, Dream State’s vocalist Jessie Powell made her way into the crowd to perform 2017 single ‘White Lies’, breaking down that barrier between band and fans in a moment that perfectly captured the spirit of the evening.
By the time Trash Boat took the stage, the crowd was ready to explode. Opening with ‘Strangers’, the band immediately sent the room into motion. Mosh pits opened, crowd surfers appeared overhead and practically everyone seemed determined to make the most of every second. The energy remained relentless throughout the set, with tracks such as ‘How Selfish I Seem’, ‘Tring Quarry’, ‘Brave Face’ and ‘Pangaea’ keeping the crowd moving. However, the set not only included deep cuts from Nothing I Write You Can Change What You’ve Been Through, but also revisited the band's wider catalogue, including ‘Shade’, ‘Old Soul’ and ‘Synthetic Sympathy’.
At one point, an audience member managed to climb one of KOKO’s ornate Victorian balconies before jumping down into the crowd. While it certainly added to the evening’s unpredictable atmosphere, security were understandably less impressed. After a significant level of resistance, the guy was eventually escorted out.
Yet the most memorable moment came at the end. Frontman Tobi Duncan admitted that opening with ‘Strangers’ had felt unnatural, considering the band usually finishes its sets with the song. Rather than leaving things there, Trash Boat decided to play it again. The reaction was immediate: the crowd absolutely erupted.
What followed was arguably one of the most intense mosh pits we have experienced in a long time. Tobi joined the crowd, turning the already wild finale into something genuinely unforgettable. With bodies flying, people singing at full volume and the pit reaching fever pitch, the second rendition of ‘Strangers’ became the perfect ending to an already explosive night.
Ultimately, this was more than an anniversary show. With Beauty School and Dream State delivering strong support sets, Trash Boat celebrating their past while embracing their heavier present, and a crowd that barely stopped moving all night, KOKO became a celebration of everything that makes alternative live music special.
And bringing ‘Strangers’ back for a second round? The best decision the band could have made.
