Strangely, it was soon after a conversation with my son that things swiftly began falling into place. I had not long returned from a Chappell Roan gig at the Brixton Academy and felt the effects of post-gig blues creeping in. I simply inquired, “If there is a band you’d wish to go see, that you haven’t yet. Who would that be”? The spontaneous reply from him was Hurts. The reponse, in turn made me extremely happy, since Hurts is one of my favourite duos from this past decade. Even so, little did I foresee that within a week or two following that conversation I would spend an anxious forty minutes securing concert tickets for a Hurts “15 Years of Happiness” gig in the pre-sale.
I have covered Hurts countless times on the blog since I immensely admire the alternative pop duos’ artistry. Intelligent lyricism, distinctive alt-pop flair, stunning visual aesthetics and uber-arresting music videos. Yet I hadn’t realised the fifteenth anniversary of the duo’s debut album “Happiness” was about to arrive. Neither had it occurred to me that Hurts might go all in with celebrating this milestone. I was however massively happy to find out about the planned London show. And so, the plotting and planning began in earnest.
Hurts is celebrating a remarkable milestone with the release of “15 Years of Happiness,” a stunning limited edition double-vinyl picture disc that captures the essence of their journey. To honour their legendary debut album, they’ve also unveiled a captivating rendition of “Wonderful Life ’25,” reimagined through the vibrant lens of Italo disco by Purple Disco Machine. This euphoric and uplifting rework contrasts beautifully with the original’s darker tones, breathing new life into a classic. The compelling message of resilience and faith in overcoming struggles strikes a powerful chord today, resonating even more deeply than when the song first graced our ears in 2010.
Moreover, I absolutely made the right call trusting my instincts and grabbing tickets for the Brixton Academy 2025 gig. The crowd erupted with a deafening roar as Theo Hutchcraft stepped onto the stage, akin to the reception reserved for the world’s biggest pop icons. Throughout the evening, it was clear that Theo’s vocals were in outstanding form—simply incredible. The dynamic delivery, sense of melodrama and emotionally charged performances were nothing short of electric. I say this without hesitation: the show was nothing less than phenomenal. You could feel the heart and soul poured into every moment of “Happiness” performed in its entirety. Including a selection of the duos greatest hits and fan favourites that followed in the second half of the performance. This rather felt like we were being treated to a track list from a bonus CD.
The production featured everything from the iconic, stylish dancers seen in Hurts’ early music videos to a magnificent string quartet. A tight backup band, and powerful backup vocalists, topped off with the inclusion of an awe-inspiring opera singer completed the line up. In fact, this gig had it all—except sadly for Hurts’ talented multi-instrumentalist Adam Anderson, who has presently, stepped back from live performances to focus on his mental health. From the very beginning, I anticipated an unforgettable night. I was however, utterly unprepared for just how epic it turned out to be.
A word of advice. If the chance arises to see Hurts live don’t hesitate for a second. Snap up some tickets.
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