There are some artists whose music feels made for movement, and walking into KOKO on 2nd April, that feeling was everywhere. The venue’s red glow, the low hum of anticipation, the buzz of Camden still clinging to everyone’s coats as they filtered in – it all felt perfectly suited to a Tom Misch show. After his four-year hiatus, there was a real sense of excitement in the room, the kind that comes when an artist people have deeply missed is finally back where he belongs.
Tom Misch’s return to the stage felt like a reminder that nobody does groove quite like Tom Misch, as I mentioned in my review of his album Full Circle as well.
From the moment he opened with ‘Echo From The Flames’, the room dove straight into his unmistakable rhythm-first world. There is something so effortless about the way he commands a stage. It never feels forced or overly polished. It’s just instinctive, warm, and deeply musical. Seeing him back on stage after time away felt genuinely special, and he carried the night with the easy charisma of someone completely at home in his sound. The entire performance had the confidence of an artist who has returned simply to reconnect with the joy of creating new music and playing live.
A huge part of the night’s magic came from the band, who were phenomenal throughout. Every musician felt locked into the same pulse, creating that lush, fluid atmosphere Misch does so well. Special mention has to go to Kaidi Akinnibi, whose saxophone work was a constant highlight. Whether weaving through the softer textures of ‘Days of Us’ or lifting the energy of the bigger moments, his playing added so much richness and soul to the set. Another special mention has to go to Joe Price on keys and Jamie Houghton on drums, both of whom helped shape the night’s deep, immersive groove, giving each track its pulse and momentum, along with the rest of the stellar musicians in the band.
The setlist struck a brilliant balance between the reflective textures of Full Circle and the songs that first made so many people fall in love with Tom Misch’s music. Pulling out fan favourites like ‘Nightrider’, ‘It Runs Through Me’, and ‘Movie’ got the crowd bopping along with him and reminded everyone just how deep his catalogue runs.
One of the evening’s standout moments came when Zak Abel joined him on stage for ‘Beautiful Escape’, bringing a warmth and chemistry that made the track feel especially alive in the room. By the time Misch closed the main set and returned for ‘Disco Yes’ as the encore, KOKO was buzzing. It was the perfect closer: bouncy, euphoric, and impossible not to move to.
More than anything, the night was a reminder that Tom Misch’s music has always been about feel. Texture, rhythm, groove, and the sense that every musician on stage is fully in conversation with one another. That night at KOKO, that conversation felt richer than ever.
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Words: Tara Choudhary
Photographer: Harriet T K Bols