There are shows that entertain you, and others that you truly live through : the kind that are meant to stay under your skin… On October 5th, Yungblud’s Idols EU Tour stormed into Forest National for the second date of the run. Backed by Los Angeles band Weathers and special guests Palaye Royale, the night was charged with rebellion, raw emotion, and passion, an explosive cocktail from the very first note to the end !
Weathers: the warm breeze of alternative rock returns to Brussels
Three years after their show at Kavka Zappa in November 2022, Los Angeles-based band Weathers returned to Brussels as the opening act for Yungblud‘s show. To be honest, I was more than excited to see them live ever since Kids In The Night and Pillows & Therapy stood out to me as one of the best gateways to modern alternative rock.
With a setlist packed with fan favorites such as ‘Happy Pills‘, ‘Lonely Vampire‘ and ‘C’est la vie‘, the band delivered a performance that matched their musical promise, oscillating between energetic melodies and lyrics imbued with a gentle touch of introspection! In addition to these tracks, Weathers also managed to please the most hardened emos by performing a cover of My Chemical Romance‘s ‘Famous Last Words‘ – and I’ll admit that for my part, it was impossible not to sing my heart out !
Weathers also treated the audience to a taste of what’s to come next with ‘Ugly’, a yet-to-be-released track. No album has been officially announced yet but it remains to be seen whether this single will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the band !
SETLIST : Happy Pills – I’m Not Ok – Lonely Vampire – Famous Last Words (My Chemical Romance cover) – Ugly – Where Do I Sign? – ALL CAPS – C’est la vie
Palaye Royale: the art of elegant disorder
At this point, Forest National had quickly filled up, which is not surprising considering that even if you don’t listen to Palaye Royale, you’ve probably already heard about their reputation for putting on incredible shows! And in fact, they did not disappoint. From their stage presence to their constant interaction with the audience, they had it all. I personally felt a very strong connection between the band and the crowd, as if they weren’t performing to the audience, but making sure they were also a part of it !
From the very start, frontman Remington Leith managed to bridge the gap between the audience and the stage. Constantly moving back and forth along the barrier, diving into the crowd, and wandering through the seats, Forest National turned into their playground for the night, just like the stage itself. In this sense, their performance felt more like an immersive experience than a simple concert.
By the time they played their second song, Palaye Royale had already won over the crowd, encouraging fans to jump and sing along. Their stage energy and presence reminded me of Yungblud own way of performing. As Remington Leith pointed out, the band was more than delighted to be sharing this tour after eight wonderful years of friendship…
And you could feel it ! Palaye Royale succeeded in setting the stage for Yungblud with remarkable intensity. At this point, you could almost feel the anticipation, impatience and excitement building among the crowd, as if Forest National was holding its breath before the final storm…
SETLIST : Mister Devil – Death or Glory – No Love in LA – Addicted to the Wicked & Twisted – Dying in a Hot Tub – Fucking With My Head – You’ll Be Fine – Mr. Doctor Man – For You
Yungblud: the pure and authentic energy
And suddenly, the lights dimmed. A mini orchestra took the stage and a subtle introduction followed with Black Sabbath‘s ‘War Pigs’. Yungblud then appeared, true to himself: energetic and more than ready to take over both the stage and the crowd.
To be honest, my only expectation was to be surprised, and that’s exactly what this show delivered. From the start, Yungblud has shown his ability to quickly channel the audience’s emotions transforming every scream, laugh and tear into an impactful wave of unity. I particularly appreciated how he encouraged us to experience the music together and with our neighbours in the stands. It is indeed something that is often overlooked: music is something you go through as one. This philosophy was particularly tangible when Yungblud gave Simon, a lucky and talented fan, the opportunity to play bass with him during ‘fleabag‘! A sincere bond formed between the two, and through this simple act, Yungblud once again demonstrated how effortlessly it is to convey the core values of music.
On stage, his authenticity, ambition, and sincere raw energy confirm why many see him as the modern face rock’n’roll. Yungblud possesses the ethos needed to captivate and move any audience. And after talking to many fans, one thing is certain: no matter the venue’s size, with him, everything feels personal, real, and above all, human ! And that emotional connection went both ways as during ‘Zombie‘ fans had prepared a heartwarming fan project as a way to give back some of the energy and love Yungblud constantly shares on stage. With small pink heart filters placed over our phone flashes, the entire venue glowed in soft pink light wrapping Forest National in a moment of pure unity.
By focusing on tracks from his latest album Idols, Yungblud almost seemed to set a new course for himself therefore leaving his earlier work behind to turn the page and fully embrace what lies ahead. As for us, we are definitely more than eager to see where this new chapter will take him next.
SETLIST : War Pigs (Black Sabbath song) – Hello Heaven, Hello – The Funeral – Idols Pt. I – Lovesick Lullaby – My Only Angel (Aerosmith & YUNGBLUD song) – fleabag (With Simon on bass) – Lowlife – Changes (Black Sabbath cover) – Fire – War – Tin Pan Boy (With a tease to I Love You, Will You Marry Me) – braindead! – Loner – Ghosts – Zombie
A truly memorable evening !
Between Weathers’ alternative vibe, Palaye Royale’s flamboyant chaos, and Yungblud’s emotional hurricane, Forest National experienced a night of intensity that I consider rare. Every artists brought its own energy, yet they all created a seamless journey. In my opinion, this show on the Idols EU Tour was more than just a concert: it was a full-blown celebration of rock at its most vibrant form!