Live Review: STONE in Botanique, Brussels 05/03/2024

It had only been a couple of months since STONE played Botanique, but they kept their promise and made their return with yet another powerful, vigorous and sold-out show for their fans in Belgium.

There was no better track to kick off the setlist than ‘I Let Go’, as it instantly translated the band’s brute vivacity into the room. It took the crowd a song or two but frontman Fin Powers made sure to encourage them to match the energy. As people started jumping, the first mosh pit emerged just in time for “I Gotta Feeling”.ç

Powers then made sure to keep up the vibes for the rest of the show as a STONE show does not exist without a jumping crowd.

It was during 'Let’s Dance To The Real Thing' that the frontman first brought out his guitar as the crowd sang along all the way to 'If You Wanna'. Halfway through the set, the crowd was treated with —not one, but three— unreleased tracks titled ‘My Thoughts Go”, 'Never Gonna Die' and the more intimate 'Queen', perhaps as an introduction to their upcoming debut album that yet has to be announced.

In between the unreleased tracks, guitarist Elliot Gill stole the show with an intense guitar solo during 'Compulsive' and 'Am I Even A Man'. The set progressed and moshpits became increasingly fierce to the frontman's delight —and even amazement—, who took the chance to stage dive during 'Left Right Forward' as the crowd carried him with full excitement back to the stage.

The fan favourite 'Money (Hope Ain't Gone)' made the crowd go wild; it was their closing track before the band left the stage for the encore. During the short wait, the crowd excitedly started to chant the chorus to the last song all over again before the band returned to the stage.

The encore opened with 'Waste', and was followed by more energy, crowdsurfers, moshpits, and a frontman who once again made his plunge into the crowd. As debut single 'Leave It Out' closed the set, the frontman stated that STONE “is a band that thrives on community”.

The sense of community and love for music surely became clear during the set as well as after. The band eventually made their way into the lounge of the venue, chanting the chorus to "Money (Hope Ain't Gone)" by themselves and expressing their love for their fans as the crowd gave it all back to them.

Words and images: Reine Baeten. Editor: Reya Casajus