The Waterboys are back on the road, and this time they’re bringing with them a bold new album, Life, Death and Dennis Hopper. With over four decades of music behind them, Mike Scott and his ever-evolving lineup continue to deliver performances that blend nostalgia with fearless reinvention.
The night was a sold-out show at the iconic Roundhouse in Chalk Farm. With its circular architecture and intimate acoustics, the venue was the perfect setting for a night of good music. Beer in hand and the buzz of anticipation thick in the air, the crowd erupted as The Waterboys hit the stage—decked out in glittery cowboy hats and flares. Yeehaw!
They opened with “Glastonbury Song,” met with a roar of approval, before easing into the beloved classic “How Long Will I Love You.” Bro Paul Brown lit up the stage with his keyboard work on “Be My Enemy,” which ended with a cheeky nod to the Rolling Stones’ “Bitch.” Then came a show-stopping piano solo from James Hallawell on “This Is the River,” nearly sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Midway through the set, a video of Steve Earle performing “Kansas” set the stage for something special. Mike Scott introduced their new concept album, inspired by the life and times of Dennis Hopper—an idea, he claimed, that came to him in a dream. As the band played selections from the album, scenes from Easy Rider and vintage footage of Hopper and Peter Fonda played behind them, adding a cinematic layer to the performance.
The encore was a celebration in itself. Members of the support band Sugar Foot and rising star Barney Fletcher joined The Waterboys on stage for a rousing rendition of “The Whole of the Moon,” transporting the audience to a time when life felt carefree. Scott then handed the spotlight to Barney, who performed his own track “Wasted Sunset” with Scott backing him—a touching moment that hinted at a bright future for the young artist, clearly in awe of his mentor.
The night closed with none other than “Fisherman’s Blues,” met with a thunderous singalong that echoed through the Roundhouse.
On the way back to the tube, I chatted with a longtime fan who recommended the documentary A Wild and Beautiful Ride, which chronicles the making of the new album. He said it brings the songs to life in a whole new way—so if you’re catching The Waterboys on this tour, maybe grab some popcorn and give it a watch beforehand.
Setlist
Glastonbury song
How long will I love you
Be my enemy (with ‘Bitch’ by the Rolling Stones outro)
Medicine Bow
When ye go away (band intro then)
This is the sea
Life, death and Dennis Hopper (showing Kansas Stephen Earle video)
Live in the moment baby
The tourist (featuring with Barny Fletcher and Sugar foot)
Andy a guy like you
Blues for Terry Southern
Hopper’s on top (Genius) (featuring Barny Fletcher and Sugar foot)
Transcendental Peruvian blues
Michelle (Always stay)
Letter from an unknown girlfriend (Mike Scott solo)
10 years gone
I don’t know how I made it (with Barny Fletcher)
Golf, they say (featuring Barny Fletcher and Sugar foot)
The passing of Hopper
Don’t bang the drum
A girl called Johnny
Spirit
The pan within (extended outro)
The whole of the moon
Wasted sunset (Barny Fletcher cover)
Fisherman’s blues (featuring Barny Fletcher and Sugar foot)
MUSIC PREMIERES
Aphex Twin quietly shared two new songs on his SoundCloud account, surprising fans with the sudden upload.
Read More: Aphex Twin at Printworks, London: still one of the greatest electronic shows on earth
The tracks are called ‘Zahl am1 live track 1’ and ‘Zahl am1 live track 1c f760m1 unfinshd’. They seem to be two different takes on the same piece of music and were added to his page (username: user18081971) yesterday (November 27).
Both songs use cover photos that show the artist, real name Richard D. James, in the ocean with his partner. In the description for ‘Zahl am1 live track 1c f760m1 unfinshd’, he wrote, “Got many requests for this one from a few years back. Italy, pic with my love from Sicily recently. Need sun, relentlessly raining in the UK. Mixed down on the Zähl, think there are better mixes, will upload them if I find them.”
You can listen to the songs below:
The electronic musician’s most recent project was the 2024 compilation ‘From The Merch Desk (2016-2023)’, which also arrived without advance notice. It collects everything the celebrated producer and DJ had released through eight years of vinyl editions that fans could only get from the merch stand at his live performances.
The release followed a new expanded version of his 1994 album ‘Selected Ambient Works II’ in October for its 30th anniversary. His most recent full studio album is 2014’s Grammy Award winning ‘Syro’.
In 2025, Aphex Twin has put much of his attention into his work with streetwear brand Supreme. This has included creating a playlist for the company that features nearly 200 songs, most of which lean toward calm and slow moving styles.
