REVIEW: Band of Skulls with Tom Hamilton: Live at The EARL - ATL
- Joe Chiarella
- Nov 24
- 3 min read
The rock troupe returns with a new lineup for an intimate yet powerful evening in Atlanta
Band of Skulls made their return to Atlanta last Monday night, marking their first headlining show here since 2016. Immediately upon entering The EARL, it was clear I was surrounded by Band of Skulls' most dedicated fans, sporting tour shirts and sharing stories of seeing them at Music Midtown or opening for Jet this summer. Without a new album to promote, this was truly a show for the fans, showcasing all of their hits in anticipation of their Cold Fame box set releasing next year.
Tom Hamilton kicked off the evening backed by a new band of old faces, including Hamilton's former bandmate from Brothers Past, Tom McKee. They opened with “Too Late to Call,” a Brothers Past song from their 2005 album This Feeling's Called Goodbye. The set featured cuts from his previous project, American Babies, alongside tracks from his upcoming album I'm Your Vampire, out January 23. Hamilton is a gifted songwriter and a dynamic musician who conducts his band through sudden setlist changes and improvised sections to put on an entertaining show.
Band of Skulls today is a different beast than the trio that played here in 2016, having parted ways with their original bassist Emma Richardson and drummer Matt Hayward. To address the departure of Richardson, Marsden has wisely opted to expand the lineup rather than simply replace her. Vocal duties were handled by the captivating Iona Alven, while the rhythm section featured Jared Mullins (Holy Roller Baby) and Christina Comley. The new ensemble displayed a heavy, locked-in chemistry that made it feel like they had been playing together for years.
It's a rare feat for a show to feel both deafeningly heavy and remarkably intimate, but The EARL's stage puts fans and musicians at times inches apart from each other. Marsden played the entire set with a unique Fender Jazzmaster featuring an aluminum body made by metalworker Steve Parmiter, often stepping in front of the monitors to take a guitar solo. He was balanced by Alven, who seemed equally comfortable commanding center stage and providing texture as a backing vocalist. The band also gave the audience a glimpse into their future by playing two new unreleased songs: “Rip It Up” and “Bitter Dream.”
The new material was a resounding success. Fans were visibly excited to hear new music for the first time since 2019. The emotional climax of the evening was “Fires,” which felt like the moment where the room was in sync with the band, providing their own harmonies while Alven held the mic out to the crowd. Russell Marsden and his new ensemble didn't just play a set of hits. They proved that Band of Skulls is not only surviving major changes, but charging a path forward with a compelling new identity and showing the band still has plenty left to say.
Band of Skulls' new box set Band of Skulls: Cold Fame is available for pre-order.
Article and photos by Joe Chiarella. Please credit @joe.takes.pictures or @art.seen.atl if reposting on social media.
