Camden’s legendary Electric Ballroom tonight served up three Halloween treats. As December Falls brought their Everything’s On Fire But We’re On Tour show and were joined by The Hara and Redhook. Clearly, the fans knew how good this lineup was, with an enormous queue forming in the cold from well over an hour before doors opened.
As December Falls – The Hara – Redhook
Electric Ballroom, Camden – 30 October 2025
Words: Sean Titley
Photography: Antonio Giannattasio
First up was Redhook, hailing from Sydney, Australia and led by their fiery, flame-haired singer, Emmy Mack. The four-piece blazed their way through their set, taking a just-in-the-venue crowd by the scruff of the neck.
Redhook cranked the Electric Ballroom with driving energy, passion and domination of the stage to the extent that, by the second song, Hot Tub, the crowd was already jumping.
It was an absolute assault on the senses with their version of self-described “screaming rap rock electro pop” delivered with skill and precision. Tight drumming and ruthless guitars, Redhook are a gob-smacking, blink and you will miss it live act.
There were many rapid-fire costume changes, including a glow-in-the-dark crop top, Halloween-appropriate zombie wear and a strait jacket.
Stage craft was everywhere with bubble machines, dry ice and exhorting the crowd to connect. A unique Redhook move to get the entire crowd to flip the bird during their song Soju, the band were also orchestrating circle pits, a wall of death and crowd surfing from the stage.
Redhook were fantastic, but the night has to go to Emmy Mack, who several times came off the stage to sing face to face with the crowd and roared around like an unleashed lion.
The audience engagement was intense and at the end of the set the band were roared off with “one more song”. An exceptional set for an opening act that could easily have been headliners.
The Hara
Next up was The Hara. Musically hard to pin down, but combining Metal, pop, hardcore and electronic, at times they were very heavy, at others light, and it works. The band brought serious presence and full-on masculinity.
This was an impactful, heavily tattooed sight. None more so than lead singer, Josh Taylor, who channelled a Metal version of Jim Morrison with sculpted, tattooed torso and black leather trousers, belting out song after song with the steamrollering zest of a young Tom Araya.
There was more Halloween homage with guitarist Zack Breen donning a panda bear’s head, its mouth mysteriously covered in blood. This was a high-energy affair.
Heavier than the other two bands but still fun, the crowd showed appreciation with circle pits, mosh pits, and finally a wall of death orchestrated by Taylor, who powered into the centre as if in a game of British Bulldog. He then unleashed the two sides of the wall, which smashed into him, still singing in the middle of the mayhem.
Another extraordinary and notable performance, as with Redhook, you can only see them getting bigger.
As December Falls
Finally, the headline act, the much-loved As December Falls, hit the stage, and the room was absolutely buzzing to see them. They are a crisp, finely polished emo band who do what they know best with professional ease, confidence and fun.
Upfront, Bethany Curtis, with her infectious smile, twinkling eyes and high-kicking, wild dancing, got the crowd flying from the start. The band started with their new album, Everything’s On Fire But I’m Fine. The crowd clearly knew every word. The faithful spent the night singing her words to her as much as she sang to them.
Against the backdrop of a kitten in space, As December Falls were on fire playing their new and back catalogue of classics. This was turbo-charged by a duet with Emmy Mack and by a familiarity with the audience, most obviously when the crowd chanted “Timmy, Timmy, Timmy” in honour of bassist Timmy Francis’s singing.
Another nod to Halloween, The Grim Reaper came on dancing a spin with Bethany and the band, reminiscent of a scene from The Nightmare At Christmas, fun and macabre. The band gave maximum value.
At the end, instead of going off stage and playing “adult peekaboo” forcing a chant of “one more song” to get them back, As December Falls stayed on stage and delivered two songs.
The audience could not stop dancing, circle pitting, crowd surfing and punching the air throughout the set and left in high spirits at the end of what had been a Halloween screamer of a gig.
