Two Door Cinema Club sells out in El Paso, again.

I’ve been listening to music since the mid 60s, attending concerts for the last 52 years and have been a photojournalist for the past 10 years. Back in the day, friends would ask, have you heard of a band called Dire Straits? or The Police? My answer was, no, never heard of them, but with time, we all did. This was the case here in El Paso back in May of 17 when Two Door Cinema Club played Tricky Falls. Bobbie Welch, one the owners of the venue informed me that I might want to cover Two Door Cinema Club, I said, who? She said, we’re sold out, sold 1500 tickets in a matter of hours. My response was again, who? and they sold the place out? But because I hadn’t heard of them, I passed. Fast forward 7 years to last Wednesday night, when Two Door Cinema Club performed at the Plaza Theatre here in lovely downtown El Paso, Texas.

The band consists of Alex Trimble, vocals and guitar, Sam Halliday, lead guitar and Kevin Baird on bass and keyboards, these 3 are Two Door Cinema Club. There are of course touring members, Benjamin Thompson on percussion and Andrew Lindsay on rhythm guitar and keyboards. Alex, Sam and Kevin all met in school back in Northern Ireland, the band was formed in 07 and came on the international scene following the release of their debut album, Tourist History. Four more releases since then, the latest with Keep on Smiling in 22. As in awards, they’ve been nominated for everything such as Best New Band, Best Live Band, Best British Live Band, Best Album (Tourist History) and this list continues, but they have yet to win anything, as popular as they are, I find this bizarre at best.

15 minutes late, the boys strolled onto the stage at 9:15 to a completely sold-out Plaza Theatre, not a seat available and truth be told I love it. Everyone was on their feet in an instant and didn’t sit down for the next two and a half hours. They mowed though a 24-song set list like an unstoppable rebel force taking no prisoners along the way. They touched base on every album they had, songs like Are We Ready (Wreck), What You Know, I Can Talk and Bad Decisions had this crowd in a lathered frenzy, I have to admit, it was quite the sight as well as puzzling for me not knowing anything about these Irish Rockers and being in a room with 2500 people just losing their minds over this Indie Pop/Rock trio. Three gentlemen that have stayed together, that found that chemistry in making music over the past 17 years, that have been selling out show after show, needless to say Two Door Cinema Club has found the magic and has been winning the hearts of countless fans as well as myself. Until next time and of course, we’ll see you at the next rock show.

Review and Photography by Tim Schumann

Set List-

This is the Life

I Can Talk

Sleep Alone

Sure Enough

Changing of the Seasons

Next Year

Do You want It All

Something Good Can Work

Costume Party

Lucky