The Vaccines

We need to find the good times where we can, like The Vaccines at Brooklyn Steel....
The Vaccines : Live
The Vaccines : Live

It’s beyond time to admit that 2025 does not look to be a good year. From the world literally being on fire to the bad guys winning, it’s got that “Things Fall Apart” essence. Which is why we need to find the good times where we can. It’s still freezing in New York City, but Brooklyn Steel was still able to welcome the U.K.’s The Vaccines to liven things up on Friday, January 17th.

Coming back to America just over a year after the release of their latest, Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations (QRO review), they were also coming back to Brooklyn Steel (QRO review) after just playing last May. This was something that singer Justin Hayward-Young remarked upon, adding that each band member had to double-check to make sure that they weren’t wearing the same clothes as in May. “You wait your whole life to play a place, and then you play it twice in a year…”

The Vaccines

But The Vaccines’ upbeat alt-rock is always welcome in the U.S. of A. (unlike actual vaccines nowadays – the band chose that name well before COVID…). The group has been making the kind of exuberant, accessible rock that’d fit from the sock-hops of yore to today – indeed the drape behind them and bunting beneath the drum & keys riser gave them a certain fifties ‘teenage idol’ feel – as did having the actual song “Teenage Icon”, which namechecks Frankie Avalon (even as Hayward-Young insists that he’s not a teenage icon…). This was an evening to forget your troubles and have some fun.

Still naturally putting in some of the Pick-Up Full of new songs, The Vaccines also didn’t hesitate to range Back to prior albums Back In Love City (2021 – QRO review), Combat Sports (2018 – QRO review), English Graffiti (2015), Come of Age (2012 – QRO review), and debut What Did You Expect from the Vaccines? (2011 – QRO review). It’s notable how much the group as evolved, without losing their youthful fervor, something one might not have Expected way back when. This now-long discography did mean that they missed a few of your favourite songs – for every “Your Love Is My Favourite Band”, no “Put It On a T-Shirt”, for a “Headphones Baby”, no “Back In Love City”, but so be it.

Justin Hayward-Young

Hayward-Young (who kind of looked like Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock from the once-and-future Daredevil, suited up with shades) mentioned that the group had first come to NYC fourteen years ago. “New York was a pretty different place back then. I remember being pretty overwhelmed on stage in front of New Yorkers.” Yes, the world changes, often not for the better in these times, but The Vaccines are always a good time.

The Vaccines

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