For many of a certain generation, The Neighbourhood are the sound of growing up online – tumblr angst and late-night yearning included. When they landed in Dublin last night for the final stop on their European tour, there was a sense they weren’t so much returning as just picking up where they left off. Serious challenges in the band along with internet virality defined their recent multi-year hiatus. Streaming numbers might be in the billions now, but the energy still felt entirely personal.
Frontman Jesse Rutherford was predictably impossibly cool at centre stage, effortless, slightly chaotic and very much aware of it. Behind the band, a huge screen carried most of the visual weight – projections of waves, fire and space all drifted in and out as extensions of their sound. It could’ve been overdone, but instead it matched the band’s hazy aesthetic perfectly.
Having last seen them back in 2017, the contrast was obvious. The theatrics used to come more from Jesse himself, though now the production does a lot of the heavy lifting. Thankfully, it never felt forced. The minimalist screen setup gave them room to move between moods without it turning into visual overload. The setlist dipped into every era, but it was the older tracks from albums “I Love You”. and “Wiped Out!” that hit hardest. No shock there.
We were eased in by a soothing AI voice reminding us we were in a “safe space”. It felt equal parts comforting and slightly dystopian… We were introduced here to “some friends.” as the band walked out to a wall of screams. The soft drum roll of “Hula Girl” crept in and set the tone. The new hit opened things smoothly, with a slightly surreal projection of a tiny bobblehead hula dancer hanging out on the side of the stage. Jesse stepped up to the microphone in all white with the swagger he’s become known for.
“Cry Baby” arrived early, and the reverb off Mikey’s bass sounded huge coming off the walls of the arena. “A Little Death” turned the entire backdrop a deep, aggressive red and was easily one of the night’s standout visual moments before “Afraid” kept things moving.
Phones lit up the place for “Fallen Star,” turning the arena into a sea of DIY constellations before the lasers kicked in for “Planet.” By the time “The Beach” rolled around, with its monochrome ocean visuals, the crowd was fully lost to the show in the best way. That chorus still hits like a truck live and gave me literal goosebumps.
At one point, Jesse checked in to see if we were feeling “sweet,” casually mentioning his appreciation for a couple of pints, always a safe bet with a Dublin crowd. “Daddy Issues” followed, and honestly, you could barely hear him over the singalong. Not that he seemed too bothered.
“Private” was a personal highlight – slick, punchy, and one of those tracks that clicks instantly live. Jesse had the crowd singing along before the first chorus even properly landed. Then came “Sweater Weather.” No buildup, no teasing – and fair enough. When you’ve got the third most streamed track of all time ready to go, you don’t really need to play hard to get.
They closed on “Softcore,” which felt like an unexpected choice until the final chorus exploded into life. Sparkler cannons which had been hidden in the lighting rig all night finally made their appearance and rained down as Jesse danced inside a cage of lasers. Subtlety was not invited… true sensory overload.
Support on the evening came from DJ Noise Dept and London based Night Tapes, who are one of the most interesting acts around right now. Their sound leans more toward intimate venues but stylistically they were a perfect fit for this support slot with their similar dreamy textures and dark edges. If anything, they set the mood a little too well and by the time the main act hit the stage, the crowd were already halfway hypnotised…
It really felt like we were watching The Neighbourhood fully evolved here. There’s a maturity now – not just musically, but in how they carry themselves too. They’ve avoided the trap of becoming a nostalgia act or chasing trends and it shows. One fan, Ali, summed it up nicely for us after the show: “An electrifying return to the stage. Jesse has a stage presence that draws you in and leaves you wanting more. From the visuals to the dance moves to the crowd interaction, it felt like a moment of community. I loved how they shot an impromptu music video during the performance of Devil’s Advocate too”.
Night Tapes photos:
The Neighbourhood photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Hula Girl
OMG
Cry Baby
Prey
Refelctions
Void
R.I.P. 2 My Youth
Zombie
A Little Death
Afraid
You Get Me So High
Fallen Star
Nervous
Planet
Devil’s Advocate
Valentines
Baby Came Home 2
The Beach
Chip Chrome
Pretty Boy
Cherry Flavoured
Daddy Issues
Private
Lovebomb
Stargazing
Sweater Weather
Softcore
Photos & Words by Myles Dunne – @MylesDunnePhoto