Rejoice, dear rock fans! Rock ‘n’ roll is far from dead because we’ve found the cure: The Vaccines! Last night, at the Rock School Barbey, the British indie rock band delivered a wild performance that set our hometown on fire. It was a golden opportunity to pay tribute to a band we’ve passionately followed for years.
We’d been counting down the days for months, waiting for The Vaccines to finally come to Bordeaux. The last time we caught them was in Oxford, about 5 or 6 years ago, for the record Combat Sports. Freddie Cochran (brother of Tom Furse, a member of The Horrors) was still playing guitar for them, then. That show was wild — the kind of gig that leaves you buzzing for days. So this time, after the release of Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations, there was no way we were missing them. Lucky for us, they announced their first-ever show in Bordeaux!
Meeting The Vaccines
We arrived in the afternoon and had the chance to meet Justin, Yoann, Tim, and Árni. Of course, we didn’t come empty-handed: we had prepared a tire-shaped shortbread chocolate cake, filled with cupcakes decorated like pink carnations. These beauties were filled with Isapahan jam, a delicate mix of raspberries, roses, and lychees. The guys were stoked, and honestly, we were just happy to show them some love.
How was the opening act?
The evening started with Kaktus Einarsson, an Icelandic artist hailing from Reykjavik. Accompanied by a drummer, bassist, and talented keyboardist, his suave electro-rock managed to captivate the crowd. While it wasn’t exactly our usual style, his soft, enveloping music won us over, especially during a beautiful duet with the keyboardist.
Kaktus also spoke about his new album Lobster Coda, available in limited advance copies that night, which tells the poignant story of his recovery from a neurological disorder and his return to the stage — a tale that surely resonated with the audience.
So, how was The Vaccines’ show?
When The Vaccines finally took the stage, the excitement reached its peak. Their reputation as live performers is well-deserved, and although they seemed slightly more restrained than when we last saw them, the energy was still there. Justin, as charismatic as ever, struck energetic poses and engaged the crowd, throwing out a few French words with a playful tone, instantly charming everyone.
The band masterfully played one hit after another, but it was the drumming — particularly powerful that night — that really elevated the songs to an irresistible level. It’s easy to forget just how many hits The Vaccines have, but they played them all with impressive ease. The usually reserved Bordeaux crowd quickly let loose, jumping and dancing without hesitation. It was awesome to see.
The new album Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations leans into themes of heartbreak, but the tracks fit perfectly with their older stuff. The setlist was spot-on, gliding between the classics and the new jams. We got Wreckin’ Bar right next to Love to Walk Away, Teenage Icon leading into Heartbreak Kid. By the end of it, we’d danced so hard that we had actual face cramps from smiling.
What were the highlights of the night?
Three moments stood out in particular:
- The explosive back-to-back of I Can’t Quit and Post-Break-Up Sex, two of their biggest anthems;
- An unforgettable detour into their previous album, Back in Love City, with the gorgeous Headphones Baby and Jump Off the Top;
- and finally, an exceptional encore where they performed the addictive Sometimes I Swear, followed by Melody Calling (a track they hadn’t played since 2018), and finished in style with All My Friends Are Falling in Love.
As we left the venue, we felt completely re-energized. This concert reminded us just how much we had missed The Vaccines. On our way out, we ran into Yoann, the drummer, and congratulated him and the rest of the band for the insane performance. He thanked us again for the cake, and we parted ways, all smiles.
What a night!
