Swindled - Pop Recs, Sunderland

There are bands that play gigs, and then there are bands that turn a gig into a declaration of intent — Swindled belong firmly in the second category.

Sunderland's own Swindled made a triumphant return for their first hometown headline since 2023. Brothers Will and Jonny Swindle led the charge, but the whole band – including Thomas on bass, Felix on drums and Alex on guitar – moved as one and each had their own moment with covers that lit up the crowd towards the end of the performance.

With a punchy opener- 'The Hangover' - the band surged with energy: tight instrumentation and crisp harmonies. As praise for Swindled's crowd, there wasn't a moment where they weren't screaming the lyrics or side stepping in unison. The atmosphere was pure hometown pride — both band and crowd feeding off one another in a feedback loop of joy.

A standout moment of the evening came during Will Swindle’s solo performance, when he took the stage armed only with an acoustic guitar yet held the audience in rapt attention, earning as much enthusiasm and applause as the full band.

Swindled’s stagecraft is minimal but effective. Matching suits, a tight five-piece line up, occasional choreography or movement to keep things visually engaging without overshadowing the music. Or so we thought! Until the 5 piece marked the last few tunes by re-amerging  in space suits and a notable flag- a slight theatrical twist for frontman Jonny's serious demeanour on stage.

The sound was spot on: guitars had weight, the rhythm section held the groove firm, Jonny’s vocals cut through clearly and bass player Thomas kept us entertained with his groovy moves. On songs like Dear Past Life and Cosmic Immigrants (drawn from their latest EP) you could hear the ambition in the arrangements: lush harmonies and a band confident of their identity.

In a scene where breaking out from local recognition into wider success can be hard, Swindled are making smart moves. The sold-out show at Pop Recs is a milestone and their knack for writing pop-forward yet emotionally layered songs  suggests they’re building for longevity, not just the next gig.

They proved on this night that they’re not just local hopefuls — they’re a force to be reckoned with in the North East’s vibrant live scene. Keep your eyes on them: if this was a statement show, the next one could be the breakout. If you missed this one- grab a ticket to their newly announced headline on 11th December at Roker Watchouse.

Words - Milly Nicholson

Photo - tynesightphoto