YELLOW DAYS – SCALA – LONDON – LIVE REVIEW

06/05/26

There’s always something special about a band selling out the Scala for the first time. Seeing a queue forming outside a 1,000-capacity venue as soon as you arrive in King’s Cross creates a buzz before you’ve even stepped inside. Having already conquered Europe, Yellow Days arrived at the Scala with the attention of the UK music scene firmly fixed on them — and rightfully so.

To kick things off, the band took to the stage to “Let ’Em In” by Wings — a fitting introduction for what was to come, with its loose, semi-’70s funk groove setting the tone perfectly. They wasted no time showcasing their chemistry as a tight-knit unit, opening with the smooth harmonies of “Intro (Don’t Say Goodbye),” carried by a gliding saxophone that flowed effortlessly through the venue.

Enigmatic frontman George van den Broek then emerged to join the band for “Glitter & Gold” — a stomping slice of ’70s-inspired psych-funk. Opening with a guitar riff and bassline reminiscent of the instrumental groove in Pink Floyd’s “Money,” the track immediately lifted the room. Its bouncing drumbeat and playful melody made it the perfect opener for a relatively intimate venue like the Scala. Without missing a beat, the band glided effortlessly into “Sharon,” driven by a bluesy, upbeat saxophone that kept the momentum surging forward.

Eleven minutes of uninterrupted performance were rounded off with crowd favourite “A Little While.” Opening with a soft, trebly guitar line layered over shimmering synth keys, the arrangement perfectly complemented George’s exceptional vocal range. The band then eased through tracks from their latest album, Rock and a Hard Place, before George van den Broek took to the keys himself for a stunning, extended rendition of “Daylight Miracles” — a track that sounded as though it could have been lifted straight from Prince’s back catalogue.

The run of Rock and a Hard Place tracks continued with the Hendrix-inspired, funk-infused “I Cannot Believe in Tomorrow” and “California,” whose jarring keys and booming vocals evoked shades of Nina Simone. George then stepped behind a vintage ’70s synthesiser to guide the band through a cover of “Baby I’m For Real” by The Originals.

Proving his seemingly limitless ability as a multi-instrumentalist, George van den Broek later strapped on an electric Vox guitar for Yellow Days favourite “Gap in the Clouds,” taken from their six-track debut release, Harmless Melodies. The track carried a mood not unlike“Border Line” by King Krule. Next came “The Curse,”the band’s collaboration with Mac DeMarco, driven by a punchy bass drum and dreamy synthesiser textures.

The band brought the night to a close with perhaps their most ’60s psychedelia-inspired track, “Let Me Down Easy.” As they said their goodbyes and disappeared backstage, the ecstatic crowd immediately erupted into chants for more, willing an encore into existence.

Frontman George van den Broek soon returned to the stage, admitting the band hadn’t even planned an encore. What followed was a breathtaking solo rendition of “You Didn’t Leave Me,” performed to a stunned, near-silent audience as every note rang out beautifully across the Scala.

It’s not often you get to witness a band this outrageously tight in a modestly sized London venue — each member locked in with remarkable precision, serving songs that feel both meticulously crafted and effortlessly balanced. With a successful European and huge US run behind them, it’s clear that arenas are calling for Yellow Days.