Live Review | Day We Ran @ The Waiting Room, London

Matt Wellham

After years of photographing and filming the London music scene, Matt’s now based in Sydney, Australia. A lover of the post-punk and alternative movement, he can usually be found in the grassroots venues, camera in one hand and a beer in the other.

Rising Australian outfit Day We Ran delivered a sun drenched, harmony heavy set that felt more Gold Coast than North London basement

Day We Ran are a band I’ve been eagerly waiting to see ever since the release of their debut single ‘Foaming’. While they may have just four singles out and only a handful of live shows under their belt, the Australian group, hailing from Lennox Head, NSW, already boast a growing international following keen to hear their mellow indie hits in the flesh.

Opening the night was Dermot Henry, who meandered through the crowd before stepping on stage and unfolding a crumpled, scribbled setlist. Picking up his acoustic guitar, Dermot took a deep breath and burst into life. What followed silenced the room, which only moments earlier had been abuzz with chatter as people bundled down the stairs. Dermot had completely transfixed them, his voice carrying a softness and pain I can only compare to the likes of Elliott Smith – and that’s not a comparison I make lightly.

Over the course of 30 minutes, Dermot took us through a collection of nostalgic, gut-wrenching folk songs that could easily find a home in an early Wes Anderson film. He closed with his recent demo ‘Pilot’s License’. Once I got home that night, I cracked a beer and found myself deep diving Dermot’s SoundCloud to revisit his unreleased discography. I suggest you do yourself a favour, grab a seat, and take your own dive below.

As 9pm approached in The Waiting Room, a 120-capacity venue tucked beneath a bustling pub in Stoke Newington, the room filled out and the audience edged closer to the stage. The setup is simple: a modest sound system and a few RGB lights casting harsh pinks and blues overhead. It may be basic, but it’s the perfect space for a band like Day We Ran to cut their teeth, meet new fans, and build their live experience.

As the background music faded, Day We Ran squeezed through the crowd and took their places. The four-piece, made up of three brothers and “one brother from another mother”, grinned ear to ear as they picked up their instruments. Their image perfectly complements their indie surf rock sound with salty blonde mullets, baggy jeans and a laid back, easy going vibe.

Without a word, they launched into their first unreleased track, a guitar driven indie number that instantly set the tone for the evening. Drummer Tane Cullen span around the kit with a smooth, fluid touch while the brothers upfront delivered relaxed melodies and harmonies you couldn’t help but sing along with.

After a burst of applause, lead singer Matthew Lough welcomed the crowd, encouraging everyone to shuffle closer to the stage. After introducing the group, he spoke about the brothers growing up together on the coast, spending their youth listening to country music and finding a love of songs with prominent vocal harmonies, something that’s clearly at the core of their sound.

Over the next 15 minutes, the band worked through several unreleased mellow indie rock tracks. Each song felt unique and fresh, but all had that warmth and energy that Day We Ran have become known for. Bassist Daniel Lough shared that this was the group’s third headline show and their first ever sold out headline gig. They may still be learning the ropes on stage, but Day We Ran’s infectious energy and relaxed style had the audience feeling like they were watching an old favourite on stage.

The crowd swayed effortlessly, dreaming of warmer skies and sand beneath their feet, a vision painted vividly by ‘Piha Lounging’. Named after one of their favourite surf spots, it’s some of Day We Ran’s finest work and my highlight of the night. The song oozes that surf lifestyle, with tones that capture the feeling of waves lapping at your feet, and harmonies repeating: “I’ve never felt anything like this before.”

Next came ‘Naked at Your Door’, a gorgeous unreleased track that saw Matthew Lough on acoustic guitar as the rest of the band layered in harmonies that transported us into distant memories.

After a run of sun soaked tunes, the band arrived at the single that started it all, ‘Foaming’. Guitarist Michael Lough cranked the delay and strummed sweeping ambient tones, before frontman Matthew Lough kicked in with the song’s irresistible riff. While ‘Piha Lounging’ felt like a lazy day at the beach, ‘Foaming’ captures the thrill of paddling out and catching the perfect wave, the ocean barrelling around you as a thunderous bassline carries you forward. It’s their most energetic track and fully deserving of the international attention it’s received.

As the set drew to a close, the group thanked the audience for being part of their first sold out show. As applause rang through the basement, the band launched into their final track, ‘Forestry’. This song is Day We Ran’s anthem. It takes their mellow, sun drenched vibe and drops a sing along chorus right in the middle. As the crowd raised their arms and swayed together, it evoked memories of youth: first cars, long summers, and the kind of friendships that shape the rest of your life. The room united, jumping and belting out, “Those were our days, take me back to Forestry.”

Day We Ran may be new to headlining and only have four singles to their name, but having now witnessed them live, I’m convinced they’ve got big things ahead. With their infectious energy and sun drenched sound, they’re already winning hearts across the world and I expect to see them have a lot more sold-out shows in the future.