STATE CHAMPS | BROADSIDE | THE HOME TEAM @ O2 KENTISH TOWN FORUM

The O2 Kentish Town Forum was the place to be for pop-punk fans as State Champs, The Home Team, and Broadside delivered a night of unforgettable chaos. From crowd-surfing madness to confetti explosions, every second of this gig was pure, unfiltered energy. If pop-punk had a health warning, this show would come with a disclaimer: "WARNING: Excessive jumping, screaming, and spontaneous crowd surfing may result in extreme post-gig exhaustion."

Broadside - Late But Legendary

Broadside made a fashionably late entrance, but when you're about to unleash pure pop-punk mayhem, what’s a few extra minutes? The anticipation was worth it because the second they hit the stage, it was all systems go.

They kicked off with Stranger, immediately setting the tone for the night. The crowd was ready to party, and Broadside delivered. After the first song, they paused to thank fans for their energy before dropping a legendary line: “This next song is about fuckin" and, well, they weren’t lying. Dazed & Confused followed, and the crowd absolutely lost it.

The energy didn’t let up as they powered through Heavenly, Coffee Talk, and One Last Time, turning the floor into a trampoline of chaos. Then came Cruel, with Brian Butcher from

The Home Team jumping in to crank the excitement up even higher. The final stretch featured The Raging Sea and the anthem Foolish Believer, leaving everyone breathless.

Bad news? Broadside has no plans to return to the UK anytime soon (cue collective groan).

But after that set, we can only hope they change their minds soon. Broadside isn’t just a band; they’re a whole experience. If you missed them, do yourself a favor and be there next time.

The Home Team - Heavy Pop Perfection

The Home Team makes you feel like you're living inside the most epic coming-of-age movie montage ever. This Seattle-based four-piece calls their sound “heavy pop”, and it fits perfectly—it’s the kind of music that makes you want to scream along, bust out a dance move, and maybe shed a single, slow-motion tear of joy.

For me, The Home Team was a lockdown band, so finally seeing them live was already an emotional rollercoaster. But what I wasn’t prepared for was just how insanely fun they were. The second they hit the stage, I had a ridiculous grin plastered across my face.

They opened with Brag, which, let’s be honest, is very fitting because they absolutely should be bragging about how good they are. Right Through Me and Love & Co kept the momentum high, proving they could hold their own on any stage.

Special shoutout to guitarist John Baran and bassist Ryne Olson—absolute menaces in the best way possible. Not only did they keep the energy sky-high, but their banter between songs had the crowd in stitches.

The final run featured Somebody Else’s Face, Walk This World With Me, Watching All Your Friends Get Rich, and the explosive closer Loud. By the end, my face hurt from smiling, my feet hurt from dancing, and my brain hurt from processing just how good that set was.

Final verdict? 10/10. No notes. The Home Team didn’t just perform; they commanded that stage. Can we get them back in the UK for their own tour ASAP? Asking for, well… everyone.

State Champs - A Masterclass in Pop-Punk Mayhem

Finally, State Champs stormed the stage, proving once again why they’re one of the tightest, most electrifying bands in the scene. With crowd surfers, confetti cannons, and controlled chaos, it was a full-blown pop-punk paradise from start to finish.

Frontman Derek DiScanio had the crowd in the palm of his hand, delivering effortless charm and next-level vocals while treating us like we were all just hanging out in his living room—if his living room was packed with thousands of sweaty, screaming fans. The entire band was locked in, dialed up to 11, and absolutely owning it.

Setlist Highlights - A Rollercoaster of Bangers

Silver Cloud kicked things off with unstoppable energy.
Mine Is Gold turned the room into a group therapy session.
Outta My Head had everyone swaying in indie-pop-punk bliss.
A Perfect Score / Frozen / Fake It mashup? Unexpected. Brilliant. Life-changing.
Elevated and Dead and Gone back-to-back? If your feet were on the floor at that point, were you even at the gig?
The encore? Everybody But You and Secrets, sealing the night in a confetti-filled pop-punk explosion.

By the final notes, everyone was sweaty, euphoric, and immediately Googling “State Champs next UK tour dates.”

Final Verdict: 10/10, Would Lose My Voice Again

State Champs took Kentish Town and turned it into a pop-punk paradise. The energy, the chaos, the sheer number of airborne humans—everything about this show was a masterclass in having an insanely good time. If you missed it? I’m sorry. Truly.

And now, for the truly tragic news: State Champs won’t be returning to Slam Dunk in 2025. This is an actual crime. Pop-punk court is in session, and I’d like to file an official complaint. Until they come back, we’ll just have to keep replaying Secrets at full volume and sobbing into our band tees.