Empathy Test, one of the best synthpop bands on the planet, should be touring the world right now in support of their latest album, Monsters. Unfortunately, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic upended those plans, a big blow to music lovers and the band themselves.
So they are giving us the next best thing. On Friday, April 2, the band will be performing a full-band livestream from The Underworld Camden nightclub in London. The show starts at 19:30 UK time, which I believe is 2:30 pm where I am on the East Coast of the United States. I’ve already blocked my calendar at work.
This is a pay-per-view event hosted by Hotel Radio. You have to create an account at their website to purchase tickets, so I recommend doing that now so you don’t have to deal with it on Friday. These tickets are extremely affordable, and this is a great way to support the band at a time when their livelihood has been drastically impacted by COVID.
I had a chance to see Empathy Test live when they toured the United States in 2019 with Aesthetic Perfection. They put on an incredible show, which should be even better on a bigger stage (I actually saw them perform at a pie shop!). It was my first time experiencing Empathy Test’s songs with Christina Lopez’s live drums, which adds an organic dimension to their beautiful music.
That tour took place before they released Monsters, my favorite album of 2020, so this will be my first chance seeing many of those songs played live. Every track on Monsters is a jam, but I’m most looking forward to hearing “Love Moves,” “Fear of Disappearing,” and of course the title track.
For more information about this livestream, RSVP to the Facebook event. You can purchase your tickets here.