Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Few bands have felt as consistently at home in the Netherlands as The Boxer Rebellion. Over the years, they’ve released a steady stream of albums, establishing a lasting presence and expanding their fanbase along the way. With their new record The Second I’m Asleep on the horizon, they’re now nearing the end of a short European tour. Tonight, it’s Paradiso’s turn.
The Scottish indie rock band Haiver, hailing from Glasgow, had the honour of opening the night—and it didn’t take long for them to win over the room. Fronted by Billy Kennedy, known from his time with Frightened Rabbit, the band quickly drew the audience in and set the tone at Paradiso. Even with only a handful of songs currently available on streaming platforms, they already feel like a band worth keeping an eye on. Their sound is immediately accessible, yet reveals a deeper emotional layer underneath, often wrapped in an uplifting sound. There’s a rawness and vulnerability to their music, but also a clear sense of hope. Tracks like “Better” and “So Slow” highlighted that balance beautifully, while several unreleased tracks from their upcoming album—set for release at the end of April—were also played. Based on this performance, it’s hard not to feel like something special is taking shape here.
The Boxer Rebellion opened their set with one of their newest singles, “Flowers in the Water”. Already receiving airplay on Dutch radio, it immediately sparked a reaction from the crowd. Notably, their original guitarist Andrew Smith was unable to join this tour due to a hand injury, and was replaced by Charlie Barnes from Bastille, who seamlessly filled in. The energy carried straight into fan favourites “Spitting Fire” and “No Harm”, setting a strong tone early on, before older material like “Soviets” and “Let It Go” added a slightly heavier, punchier edge—visually reinforced by the band’s lighting and backdrop.
It didn’t take long before “Diamonds”—the track that marked their breakthrough in the Netherlands—made its appearance, sending the audience into a frenzy. Even one of their oldest tracks, “Murder Ballad”, originally recorded in 2007 and later released on B-Sides & Rarities, Vol. 2, was met with enthusiastic applause. Hearing that song again brought me back to the first time I saw the band live, in 2011, in a small, not-quite-sold-out venue. The growth they’ve shown since then—and the ease with which they now command a room like Paradiso—speaks volumes about their talent. Even small moments, like a brief false start during “New York”, only added to the sense of a live performance that felt genuine and unpolished in the best way.
With recent singles like “Satellite Above”, they also show a more critical edge, pairing their sound with commentary on modern society. There’s a brooding, underlying tension in the track that captures the sense of alienation in the digital age. Newer material like “Hidden Meanings” stood out as a highlight of the set and already feels like it could become a fan favourite in future shows.
Towards the end of the main set, “Watermelon” completely blew the room away, driven by a surge of guitar intensity that left the audience wanting more. The encore kicked off with “Step Out of the Car”, before moving into “Last of a Dying Breed”, a brand-new, not-yet-released track. As the singer joked, it might just become the audience’s new favourite. They closed the night with a heartfelt rendition of “Here I Am”, as the crowd lit up the room with phone lights—bringing the evening to a fitting and memorable close.
With their new album, The Second I’m Asleep, set to be released on 27 March, it’s clear that The Boxer Rebellion are entering an exciting new chapter in their already remarkable career.
The Boxer Rebellion
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Setlist
Flowers In The Water
Spitting Fire
No Harm
Soviets
Let It Go
Diamonds
Murder Ballad
New York
Pull Yourself Together
Satellite Above
Evacuate
Dream
Big Ideas
Flashing Red Light Means Go
Hidden Meanings
Both Sides Are Even
What The Fuck
Watermelon
Step Out Of The Car
Last Of a Dying Breed
Here I Am
Show date 23/03/2026
