Odeal brings his tour to London’s O2 Academy Brixton
The musician performed to a sold-out London crowd.
Photo: @shotbynee
Odeal’s sold-out London show at O2 Academy Brixton was the final night of the UK leg of his The Shows That Saved Us 2026 tour, and one that reminded me of why I love live music — for many reasons.
From themes of love, illusion, escape, to truth and release, the live show mirrored the shedding and renewal transformation in real time. Odeal gave a performance that returned to itself while continuing forward, with tracks from Lustropolis, Thoughts I Never Said, earlier releases, and the main tour series projects: The Summer That Saved Me and The Fall That Saved Us.
Whatever period fans joined the sonic world of Odeal, the show had it covered. My friend, an Odeal fan who wasn’t familiar with some of the latest album, was vibing to songs he didn’t yet know — I think that says everything.
Opening the night up was That Gurl Bella, a 19-year-old singer from Australia who brought the most euphoric energy to the room, followed by Karri, an emerging R&B artist from the Bay Area.
Photo: @shotbynee
I watched Odeal perform once a few years ago at The Jazz Cafe, so when he stepped out on stage, it was great to see his growth and how excited the fans were. Even though the vibe was bigger — a sold-out crowd at Brixton Academy — it still felt intimate.
Dressed in a black top and flared pants with an almost sailor-style black hat, he commanded the room before changing mid-show into a beige, nude-toned outfit. The stage set-up added to the spectacle, too — elevated on a high platform, where the guitarist, drummer and keyboard player stayed throughout. An all-male band anchored the sound from above while Odeal owned the floor below.
His stage presence was something else. His vibe in general was sexy, cool and effortless, and that translated so well on stage. It was great to see how he interacted with the audience, carrying himself with a natural confidence that felt really authentic.
One of my favourite moments was hearing fans sing his words straight back to him, a mix of those who have been riding for him since the very beginning and newer fans who have recently discovered his sound.
The setlist and the order were great. He not only took us on a journey through The Fall That Saved Us but also went deeper into his catalogue. Hearing Nights in the Sun live for the first time was a genuine highlight — a song that immediately transports you to sunnier times and makes you feel warm inside, its summery feel had the whole room glowing.
Two other songs that sounded even better live were Pretty Girls and Blur. Blur sits in what I call the quiet chaos of male restraint. In the song, Odeal is arguing with himself more than talking to the other person. On one side, there’s the part of him that wants to go back to someone he has a history with. On the other hand, there’s the part that knows it’s going to complicate everything and blur the lines. In the hook, he sings, “I’m on the way to you still”, and at the same time, “I don’t wanna blur lines”. That's literally the argument: temptation versus discipline, free will versus restraint.
One of the more memorable moments came during In The Chair. He performed the song, then, as the track played again, he invited a woman from the audience up on stage to dance with him. The crowd loved it. As an original fan, I also loved that he sang some of his older material, especially 24/48, as this was the song that truly made me fall in love with his music. Hearing it live again felt like such a full-circle moment.
He closed out the night with Miami. He went off stage and came back for it — the perfect way to end. That song had been on repeat in my headphones that day, so hearing it live for the first time felt special. The crowd singing every word back to him, my friend and I were already leaving, then rushed back to our seats.
There was also a moment mid-show that stayed with me. When someone in the crowd fainted, fans alerted Odeal, and he stopped singing completely, waiting until the person received medical attention before continuing. “This is a safe space,” he told the room, “if you need water, ask for it — it’s free.” Given recent events at concerts where people have been hurt or not looked after in crowds, it felt like an important and touching thing to say. It showed a real awareness and care for the people in that room.
For those looking to experience Odeal live, he continues to take this body of work on the road through Europe, with dates in Paris, Cologne, Amsterdam and Berlin still to come, followed by dates across Australia.
Setlist:
Free Me
Hold You Down
Monster Boys
Vicious Cycle
Blur
Molotov
Blame U
Pretty Girls
In The Chair
Nights In The Sun
Soh-Soh
Patience
You’re Stuck
Temptress
Gaslight 101
24/48
Reason
Addicted
Be Easy
ONOME
London Summers
My Heart
Composure 2
Coffee (Don't Read Signs)
Miami
