Live report ENTER SHIKARI, FEVER 333 & BLACKOUT PROBLEMS, Sporthalle , Hamburg – February 26th, 2024

The modern, crossover-inspired sounds of heavy music will fill the Sporthalle Alsterdorf tonight as Enter Shikari headline a show in Hamburg. The Brits will be joined by Fever 333 with their energetic cocktail of hardcore, funk and rap. Tonight’s opener is a German band as Blackout Problems kick off this exciting evening and they do a pretty good job.

The venue isn’t exactly what you would describe as full when I enter the hall. A few early birds are sitting in the front row, but ok, it is still 45 minutes until showtime. The room starts to fill up when Blackout Problems start their set at exactly 19:00. The four guys from Munich deliver what you expect from a first act on stage. With a lot of power and passion Blackout Problems get the crowd moving and the moment frontman Mario Radetzky sings ‘PUZZLE’ in the middle of the fans the ice is broken.

Blackout Problems have 30 minutes to get everyone in a good mood and they do a great job. And that it’s not just about fun tonight, the singer points out when he talks about the political radicals who are gaining more and more momentum and how important it is to stand up against racism, fascism and extremism, with Hamburg being a good example due to the huge demonstrations in the last few weeks. All in all, a blasting opener is what we have seen tonight.

It doesn’t get less political with Fever 333. The fact that the band has a political message isn’t new to anyone who delves into their lyrics. Tonight the Gaza conflict is mentioned in a lengthy speech and the band also expresses their gratitude to the German fans who have always welcomed the band and made provided them a safe stay in the country. Anger at the current state of society and politics is what drives the four-piece’s music. Reminiscent in a broader sense of Rage Against The Machine, Fever 333 deliver a 40-minute set that bursts with energy. I don’t think any of the four musicians stood still for a second. There’s constant action and jumping on stage, while it’s the aggressive riffing that underlines the anarchic spirit of this show. Fever 333 live means a show that’s crazy and wild. Just how wild things get is illustrated the moment frontman Jason Butler suddenly sings ‘Hunting Season’ on the balcony at the other end of the room, including a breakneck performance in dizzying heights.

Then it is time for the headliner. The room is packed and Enter Shikari have a very loyal fanbase. I personally have had the band on my radar before, but to be honest I have never really delved into their catalogue. This makes me all the more curious to see what the band brings to the stage tonight. After their 100 minute performance things are much clearer and what I experienced tonight impressed me.

Enter Shikari live in 2024 means participating at a holistic show that counts on songs and music as well as the band provides a visual treat. Tonight the focus is on the latest studio album. The four guys play seven songs from ‘A Kiss for the Whole World’, but also go back in time with songs like ‘Mothership’ and ‘Enter Shikari’, both taken from the debut album.

The whole set doesn’t just consist of music. Enter Shikari brought the big light show with them. The whole back of the stage is lit by an ocean of LED lights, showing animations and video clips to support the message of each song. To the left and right of the stage are two LED towers which frame the show and it is frontman Rou Reynolds who takes the opportunity to actually perform a few songs from the top of these towers. Furthermore, laser lights shine brightly above the people’s heads, the confetti cannon adds to the party atmosphere and when Reynolds performs a song directly from the monitoring desk, the party reaches its climax.

Enter Shikari showed tonight why they are at the forefront of contemporary rock music. It is the holistic approach, the show and especially the song with their blend of post-hardcore and trance elements, that makes an evening like this one great and memorable.