Good Neighbours: Live at The Joiners in Southampton

For their penultimate show on the UK stretch of their world tour, Good Neighbours performed at The Joiners in Southampton; previously recognised as NME’s Best Small Venue in 2013, this establishment certainly lived up to its positive reputation. The venue, which happened to be the smallest of all the band’s stops in the UK, with a cosy 200-person capacity, treated fans to an incredibly intimate and memorable experience.

The rising British duo – formed by soloists Oli Fox and Scott Verrill – skyrocketed to fame following the release of their passionately emotive debut single “Home”. A short preview of the song on TikTok quickly garnered over a million views in just a few hours, prompting widespread anticipation for its full release and, when it first hit streaming platforms, the song peaked at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100, an impressive feat for a debut single.

Opening for Good Neighbours was fellow musical duo, Internet Cafe, comprised of Imi Smith and Luke Ferrero. Their performance blended energetic beats with dreamy, soothing vocals, setting an upbeat tone for the evening. I arrived just in time to catch their set, and it was so worth it. The London-based pair played unreleased tracks and gave out free floppy discs containing their music, providing a whimsical nod to their nostalgic vibe.

At 9:15 p.m., as the house lights dimmed, the entire crowd buzzed with anticipation. Their expectant silence was broken by the booming sound of the band’s introduction track. As Good Neighbours took to the stage with their live band, they opened their set with “Keep It Up”, a clear fan favourite. The crowd joined in enthusiastically, singing every lyric and creating a joyous atmosphere which was maintained throughout the show.

With a currently limited discography, the band played some unreleased songs, demos of which can be found on Oli Fox’s Soundcloud. Their setlist also included an exclusive preview of their latest song, “Suburbs”, which has yet to be released or shared online. Oli cheekily told the crowd: “If you like it, we’ll release it. But if you don’t, we’ll release it anyway!”

Unfortunately, there was no designated photography pit in the venue, so my access was limited. However, the absence of it contributed even more to the close proximity — between artist and listener — enjoyed by fans at the very front. Oli joked about how he and Scott “did the Sprite challenge earlier” and how that could be “dangerous for the front row”, who were less than a metre away from the musicians, squeezing up close to the stage to secure a great view!

The band connected beautifully with their audience throughout this carefully-curated evening, especially during their song “Somebody”, when they invited the audience to sing along to the chorus with them. A particularly playful moment came when Oli echoed drummer Duncan Brookfield's rhythms on the tom drum, creating a light-hearted ‘Simon Says’-style interaction between the two.

Of the 11-song setlist, smash hit “Home” was the penultimate song. Prior to performing it, the band expressed their heartfelt gratitude to their fans for the overwhelming love and support that the song has received thus far. The live rendition of “Home” was nothing short of uplifting, with the powerful instrumentation amplifying its emotional resonance, sending shivers through the crowd akin to those depicted in the track’s lyrics. “This song has completely changed our lives,” Oli remarked afterwards, visibly moved.

Following such an emotional high, Scott and Oli wowed their audience with an energetic finale of “Daisies”, a track from their debut self-titled EP which released just over two weeks ago.

As a final gesture of appreciation before the night was over, the band’s team gave out free pin badges and temporary tattoos at their small merch stand – a thoughtful touch that underscored the love they have for their fans. I was lucky enough to snag a pin, which I’ll proudly wear on my backpack as a reminder of this unforgettable night. I look forward to catching Good Neighbours at their future shows, which are sure to elevate in size and success each time.