When Band of Skulls returned to Valley Bar this past week, it felt less like a routine tour stop and more like a long-overdue reunion. The last time the British indie rock band had played Phoenix was back in 2019, and judging by the packed, sweaty room beneath the city streets, fans had clearly been waiting for their return. Valley Bar’s intimate, low-ceilinged setting proved to be the perfect backdrop for the frontman Russell Marsden‘s gritty, distortion-soaked sound. As the lights dimmed and the band launched into their opening salvo, the crowd pressed forward, eager to reconnect with a group that has long specialized in loud, swaggering rock and roll that feels equally raw and precise.
Marsden set the tone early, greeting the audience with the easy warmth of someone catching up with old friends rather than performing for strangers. His relaxed banter between songs created an atmosphere that felt communal and nostalgic, acknowledging both the years since their last Phoenix appearance and the loyalty of the fans who packed the room. While Marsden now stands as the only original member of the band, the current lineup touring showed no signs of instability. Backing vocals were performed by self professed “Tambourine Queen” Iona Isabella Köhler Alvén, with Holy Roller Baby keeping the groove on the bass, and Christina Comley holding down the stage from behind the kit. If anything, the group sounded razor sharp, locked into a groove that balanced muscular indie rock with the scuzzy, fuzz-drenched spirit of garage rock. Each song carried a ferocious punch, with Marsden’s guitar snarling through distortion while Comley kept everything driving forward with relentless momentum.
The setlist itself served as a celebration of nearly the entire catalog that Band of Skulls has built over the past decade and a half. Peppered throughout the set were highlights from their breakout 2009 album Baby Darling Doll Face Honey, with fan favorites like “I Know What I Am” igniting a massive sing-along that echoed through the basement venue. “Light of the Morning” maintained the same bluesy grit that first put the band on the indie rock map, while “Death by Diamonds and Pearls” brought a darker, swaggering energy that had the crowd off their feet and shouting every word. The set also leaned into the heavier edge of their catalog. Tracks from Sweet Sour, including “The Devil Takes Care of His Own” and show-opener “Sweet Sour” landed with thunderous impact, their crunchy riffs filling every corner of the venue. When the band dove into “Himalayan” from their 2013 album Himalayan, they delivered one of the standout moments of the night. The song’s massive groove translated perfectly in the close quarters of Valley Bar, where every drum hit and guitar crunch seemed amplified by the crowd’s energy and reverberated throughout the house.
Beyond the nostalgia, the band also hinted at the future. One or two new songs from a forthcoming project were woven into the set, and rather than slowing the momentum, they fit seamlessly alongside the classics. The fresh material retained the band’s signature mix of gritty riffs and melodic hooks, suggesting that the next chapter of Band of Skulls will continue to build on the sound that made them such a compelling live act in the first place. By the time the final chords rang out, the atmosphere inside Valley Bar felt electric and celebratory. It had been six years since the band last visited Phoenix, but the connection between the group and their fans remained unmistakably strong. For one night, in a packed basement club, old friends had gathered again for loud guitars, shared memories, and everything between.
