AFI Bring an Energetic Connection and Career-Spanning Set to London’s Shepherds Bush Empire [Photos]

It had been 16 years since AFI last headlined a tour in the UK, so this return meant a lot to long-time fans. That was obvious from the moment you stepped into Shepherd’s Bush Empire, with fans wearing vintage tour T-shirts and handmade signs lining the front row. After such a long wait, there was a real sense that people were determined to let the band know just how much their music still means to them.

Despite the lengthy break between UK headline tours, and the fact that the members are no longer quite as young as they once were, AFI have lost none of their energy. All four members bounded onto the stage through thick haze, immediately throwing themselves into the performance. When the beat dropped, frontman Davey Havok kicked high into the air, setting the tone for a frantic set.

The lighting added to the chaos, with strobes flashing throughout the room and bursts of pink light nodding to their latest album, Silver Bleeds the Black Sun. While the production clearly drew from the aesthetic of the new record, the setlist initially looked much further back into the band’s history.

Rather than opening with new material, AFI began with “Strength Through Wounding”, followed immediately by “Girl‘s Not Grey”. It was an effective way to welcome their UK fans back. The response was instant, with the entire room singing and jumping along. It quickly became apparent that AFI’s energy could easily fill a venue considerably larger than Shepherd’s Bush Empire.

It wasn’t until the fourth song that they played something from Silver Bleeds the Black Sun, with “Holy Visions” making an early appearance. Starting with some of their older favourites seemed like a deliberate choice, giving long-time fans the songs they had been waiting years to hear before introducing the new material.

The chaos continued throughout the set. Havok didn’t stay confined to the stage, climbing into the crowd on two separate occasions. At one point, he made his way to the bar at the back of the room, climbing on top and singing and screaming directly towards the fans below. It was the kind of moment that would be difficult to recreate in a larger venue and suited the intensity of the show perfectly.

By the time the band left the stage, there was little doubt that an encore was coming. They returned to a huge roar from the crowd, launching into “Silver and Cold” before closing with “Miss Murder”. Both were met with huge singalongs, bringing the night to a fitting conclusion.

After 16 years away, AFI’s UK return didn’t feel like a band simply ticking another tour date off the calendar. The combination of old favourites, new material and an energetic live performance made it clear that their connection with their UK fanbase hasn’t diminished. If anything, the long wait seemed to make the occasion even more significant.