Live Review: Call Me Amour at The Lower Third, London (11/12/25)

What a special show this was. A bright and brilliant showcase of an alternative metal band well and truly on the rise. A show that went above and beyond all expectations, to the point where even a cursory interest in what they are doing on record was transformed by a performance that well and truly showed ambition, drive, and a unique ability to connect with an audience. This was Call Me Amour’s moment and it was very memorable.

The Lower Third’s an odd venue, isn’t? Hidden away in the heart of London (Tottenham Court Road), it’s very nondescript from the outside, and once inside, there’s a fair few corridors to traverse before you finally get to the basement where a nice size crowd awaits. It’s a cool place, with a decently sized stage, good sound, and plenty of room to move around. Not just for the audience, but for the band too, in particular, vocalist Harry Radford. The man has freaking ants in his pants at this show.

Before I get in the detail of the show though, let me talk about the significance of it and the tour it is part of. If you can believe it, this is the Call Me Amour’s debut headline UK tour having spent the past six years building their name and reputation supporting a variety of bands.

My first time seeing them live was as part of a four-band bill with Set It Off as the headliners earlier this year. There, they felt like a big deal, but here, it’s completely different. Not just because everyone in the venue is here for them, but because all the work they’ve put into defining who they are and what they can do has paid off. They’ve clearly learned so much being on the road with so many different bands and it shows.

It shows with a performance that many bigger bands on bigger stages can’t match, and the clues that this is going to be special are there from the start. As, following Guns N’ Roses’ Paradise City, the house lights drop, and the stage is illuminated by these two pulsating set of lights either side. Which might not sound like much, but they set a scene and throughout the night, they help create unique ambience. Call me Amour didn’t have to go to this kind of effort, they have a backdrop after all, what more do they did!? But it’s this effort, notable effort, that makes the difference. They’re thinking bigger, and it shows.

Of course, a good show is more than just a good lighting and Call Me Amour put on a bloody good show. One that makes audience participation mandatory. I’m not just talking singing, dancing, and pitting, as all those things are a given and all those things happen constantly throughout the night. I’m talking about Harry in the crowd, starting the pits. I’m talking about Harry, straddling the barrier at the back and orchestrating chaos like a conductor from this position, walking around on the bar, and in a really fun section of the show, splitting the crowd down the middle alongside guitarist Geoff, creating a North/South side ‘sing off’. This is done during a riotous Good Day, which is made all the better for Mikey Chapman of Mallory Knox being there in person for his guest spot the track.

Alongside all the fun, there’s plenty of heart and soul too, all of which comes across so genuine. Not just because it doesn’t sound like a script, but because they’re such a charismatic set of individuals, there’s no way it couldn’t be anything but their authentic self. This means a lot to Call Me Amour, and the response from the London crowd seems to overwhelm them at times. They’re an adorable bunch who also happen to have the catalogue of tracks to back up the show too.

I already mentioned how strong Good Day is live, but so is Bloom. Ok, we don’t get a Scott Kennedy appearance (Bleed from Within) but that’s just me being greedy and Harry growls with the best of them. Then there is Where’s the Chemistry? (it’s in this bloody room, that’s where it is), Girl on the Wall comes with some interesting honesty around magic mushroom use, La La is a big old singalong. However, for me, the highlight is a trio of tracks that come one after another. IMFKD, Tourniquet, and Happy Hell. Three of Call Me Amour’s strongest efforts, and three that are bigger, more impassioned, and more intense live.

It was an incredible night, and the future has never looked brighter for Call Me Amour.