Los Campesinos!

Victor Gonzalez
May 28
2 min read

Los Campesinos! kicked off their Holy Smoke North American tour at Empire Garage, six years after their last show in town.

It had been that long since the Welsh indie rockers last played Austin in 2019 down the street at the Mohawk.. But armed with critical acclaim for their 2024 album "All Hell" and the fact that they were on a short US tour, expectations were sky-high for this sold-out show.

Over the course of roughly two hours, Los Campesinos! delivered a comprehensive journey through their catalog, including about half of their highly acclaimed seventh album. Frontman Gareth was an engaging host for the evening—introducing songs, bandmates and acknowledging the absurdity of Austin's late-May heat. (Side note: I'm convinced it's basically mandatory for touring bands to comment on our weather. But honestly, can you blame them?)

When he asked how many were seeing them for the first time, a substantial portion of the crowd erupted in cheers. "It was the 'Best New Music,' wasn't it?" he playfully asked the crowd with a nod to their recent Pitchfork recognition—the kind of self-aware humor that immediately endears a band to their audience.

Not that they need any endearing, the fans showed up early, many of them clearly seeing LC! for the first time. Looking around at all those X-marked hands dotted along the front barrier, it became clear I wasn't alone in this first-timer experience. Us first timers were in for some rare treats, including "Hung Empty," performed live in the US for the first time, and the encore's "In medias res"—its first American performance since 2014.

The band's trademark blend of upbeat melodies and weighty subject matter was on full display. Before launching into "Long Throes," Gareth offered a typically blunt introduction: "This is a song about the capitalist hellscape we're living in." Behind the band, banners supporting Palestinian liberation and trans rights made their political stance unmistakable. Yet rather than feeling heavy-handed, these elements created the kind of welcoming, values-aligned space that turns a concert into community—something that felt especially meaningful in the intimate (and very sweaty) confines of Empire Garage.

For a band returning after such a long absence, Los Campesinos! reminded Austin why they'd been missed. They're not just going through the motions or cashing in on nostalgia. This was a band reinvigorated by critical acclaim and genuinely excited to be back on stage. Check them out next time they're in town—which hopefully won't be another six years.

Find Los Campesinos! at the following: Instagram, Facebook, and their own website of course. Their latest album is streaming everywhere you scroll for music.