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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Dec 17, 2025 By Dom Gourlay Web Exclusive

​When Black Rebel Motorcycle Club announced their intentions to tour third album Howl earlier this year it drew a mixed response from both fans and critics alike. While every commentator was delighted to see them back playing live - and particularly those based in the UK where they’ve not played since May 2019 - there was a perhaps an element of surprise the band had chosen to return to the live circuit by commemorating the 20th anniversary of an album even they’ve labelled “an act of career suicide” themselves. Not that there’s anything wrong with Howl. It’s actually one of the most accomplished records in Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s esteemed catalogue. Nevertheless, in a live setting, it’s also a record that demands silence from start to finish, which in a 2000 capacity venue such as Rock City is hard to achieve.

Before Black Rebel Motorcycle Club take to the stage, it’s left to Seattle’s Night Beats to warm up those who’ve ventured out early. Playing a short but career spanning set that includes material from their 2010 self-titled debut (“Puppet On A String”) onwards, the highlight of the set undoubtedly being when Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Robert Levon Bean joins them for the last two songs; 2020’s single collaboration “That’s All You Got” and a run through “Egypt Berry” off 2016’s Who Sold My Generation, still regarded by many as Night Beats’ finest hour so far.

Having not played this venue since November 2017, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s return to Nottingham and Rock City drew a sizeable crowd. Their shows have always been well received here and they’ve even been known to perform outside the venue after the show has ended for those still in the vicinity. Although this tour is essentially a 20th birthday celebration of Howl, the album isn’t played in chronological order or even fully as both “Sympathetic Noose” and “The Line” are omitted despite being on the setlist. Peter Hayed opens the set by delivering a calm and stylish rendition of “Devil’s Waitin’” before the slightly more upbeat “Shuffle Your Feet” and album’s title track give way to one of Howl‘s most popular moments “Ain’t No Easy Way”, which gets a rapturous response from the floor. “Windows” from 2007’s Baby 81 is a surprise, albeit musically fitting, mid-set inclusion amidst the Howl material.

“Weight Of The World” and “Complicated Situation” are also high points in a first half that serves as a timely reminder of why Howl received such a wealth of critical acclaim at the time, particularly for an album that heralded a marked departure from the sound of its two predecessors, and indeed the majority of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s output since. While the audience were attentive most of the time, one or two murmurs of conversation could be heard (each greeted with a “Ssssshhhhh!!!”) at various times throughout the first part of the set.

As a tentative “Gospel Song” brings Howl to a premature end, “Red Eyes And Tears” off the band’s 2001 debut B.R.M.C. raises the tempo and sonics somewhat. Drummer Leah Shapiro also noticeably coming to the fore for the first time this evening alongside her bandmates Hayes and Levon Bean. Some of the best known songs in the band’s canon follow suit, as “White Palms” from the same record evaporates into an anthemic rendition of “Beat The Devil’s Tattoo” from the 2010 album of the same name. Before energetic blasts through 2007 single “Berlin” and “Conscience Killer” from the band’s sixth album Beat The Devil’s Tattoo gives way to a riotous “Whatever Happened To My Rock ‘n’ Roll (Punk Song)” and equally exultant “Spread Your Love” that sees the whole room singing every word back at the stage as one.

Closing on an effects-heavy “Shadow’s Keeper”, another song lifted off Beat The Devil’s Tattoo and one that perhaps covers the various styles and sonics that go into Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s make-up across its six-and-a-bit minutes. It’s been a long tour that’s clearly taking its toll on the band (Hayes keeps his hood up all evening) but nights like tonight make it all worthwhile.

Welcome back Black Rebel Motorcycle Club! Let’s hope Nottingham doesn’t have to wait another eight years for your next visit.