Those Damn Crows swoop into West London on their God Shaped Hole tour, taking the stage at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire and cementing 2025 as a meteoric year.
Those Damn Crows
O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London – Halloween – 31 October 2025
Words: Rhys Tagg
Fans of the band are affectionately known as the Crowfamily, a fitting name, especially on Halloween night in London, where a loving family sits front row on the first-floor balcony of the historic music hall. They clutch a flag bearing a photo of themselves posing with none other than Those Damn Crows. Speaking after the show, MetalTalk learn that this wonderful family brought their kids to “their first proper gig” and what a show to start on.
Those Damn Crows have taken 2025 by force, playing intimate venues like The 100 Club, hosting in-store signings, and even performing atop a Welsh mountain at Steelhouse Festival. With God Shaped Hole landing a number one album, the year has been theirs.
As the lights dimmed, the band plunged into the opening track Dancing With The Enemy a stellar number guaranteed to get the crowd moving. The rousing anthem had its intended effect, with fans animated and roaring.
A brief stutter in the set saw Shane Greenhall jokingly blame Ronnie Huxford for a false start, prompting laughter from the band before they launched into Man On Fire and No Surrender with full force.
After the thunderous introduction, Shane addressed the crowd with a grin, telling us there are 1,600 fans packed in tonight. The roar that followed was deafening, as every corner of Shepherd’s Bush Empire pulsed with energy.
It was no surprise that half the setlist drew from God Shaped Hole. Shane spoke with visible pride about the band’s triumph in landing a number one album, prompting a wave of cheers and applause. The moment felt earned, shared between band and fans like a victory lap.
Guitarist David Rhys Winchurch caught the Halloween spirit in style, sporting a black T-shirt emblazoned with Michael Myers’ face and the word Mike stamped with a familiar tick. Ever the showman, he looked like he was having the time of his life.
The middle stretch of the set showcased the band’s range, melodic hooks, emotional grit, and a deep pride in their craft and heritage. Spit And Choke snarled with raw intensity, its jagged edges balanced by a chorus that stuck like glue. Turn It Around followed, a track that felt like a rallying cry, tight, punchy, and built for catharsis.
There were softer moments. Glass Heart shimmered with vulnerability, Shane’s vocals laid bare against a backdrop of delicate instrumentation. Dreaming carried that thread forward, a song that felt like a quiet confession shared with 1,600 close friends. The Night Train is an emotionally charged number. This segment of the set provided more than ballads; they were emotional anchors, proof that the band’s power lies not just in volume, but in honesty.
Momentum surged again with Who Did It, and I Am, tunes that roared with pride and purpose. Each track hit with precision, the melodies sharp, the hooks undeniable, feeling like declarations of identity, of legacy, of everything the band has built, all set to a backdrop of fans singing along in unison.
Bathed in pink light, Shane stood alone, delivering one of the night’s most powerful moments playing Still. The solo track hit hard, emotional, stripped back, and utterly magnificent. As the final note rang out, he thanked the audience. The response was thunderous with cheers, applause, and a wave of connection that rippled through the crowd.
Shane followed up with Blink Of An Eye, initially starting alone before his band mates rejoined the stage, keeping the energy high and the emotion flowing. It was a seamless transition, proof of a band that knows exactly how to shape a set and a night into something unforgettable.
In classic Shane fashion, it was no surprise when he slipped offstage and into the crowd, heading up to the balcony towards the end of the set. There, he interacted with kids in Halloween outfits, grinning and high-fiving as the crowd below erupted.
During Sin On Skin, the energy hit fever pitch, pure chaos in the best way. Security had warned him pre-show: if he got too wild, the gig could be stopped. But true to form, Shane danced the line without crossing it, descending back to the stage in time to deliver This Time I’m Ready with full force.
Still buzzing with energy, Shane took a moment to thank the band and the fans, his gratitude as loud as the amps. As we have come to expect, the band skipped the encore charade and launched straight into the big finish: See You Again. An absolute belter, it gave the crowd one last chance to scream every word back, a proper sing-along moment to close a night that felt like both a celebration and a statement from a band at the height of their powers.
James Bruner
The music kicked off with Nashville’s James Bruner, belting out Switchblade with lively flair. The blues-rock band is sure to be going places, thanks to their modern take on the genre and ability to enthral a crowd.
Bruner had previously opened for Those Damn Crows during their intimate warm-up shows ahead of the God Shaped Hole release. Having impressed earlier in the year, it was clearly an easy choice to bring him back as opener.
His band is played their first official headline show at The Black Heart, Camden, on 4 November. Tracks like Redlight and I Get Everything added punch to the set and showcased Bruner’s range and charisma.
Autumn Kings
Main support came from Canadian rock outfit Autumn Kings, bringing dual vocals and their own brand of Nu-Metal rap rock. Sleep When I’m Dead landed particularly well, and a cover of Linkin Park’s Bleed It Out sealed the deal.
MetalTalk sends big hugs to our ‘tog, Gina, who broke down on the M25 and was unable to make the show.
