Bar Italia brings euphoria and mystery to The Dome (London) 18 October 2025.

Since moving to London, most of the gigs I’ve ventured to have required a bit of a trek. So when the opportunity arose to go to one at The Dome in Tufnell Park, I was relieved. Finally a show I could walk to. No overcrowded Tube, no navigating late-night transfers. More time for pre-show pints, too. After a few at the Boston Arms next door, my friend and I walked over to The Dome’s doors. No rush.

Equally relieved by the short journey, I was even more excited because the gig in question was for London-based band bar italia.

We arrived in time to catch the opening act, Xmal, a seated two-piece guitar outfit that mesmerized the room with a melancholic, pensive set. A minute or so after they exited the stage, the trance they cast was abruptly broken. ‘Mambo No. Five’ by Lou Bega began to play over the speaker. The shift in energy was immediate and the crowd pressed closer to the front barriers, buzzing with anticipation. It was a signal that it was about to begin. During the break, my friend and I had been talking with two diehard Bar Italia fans.”Fans since the beginning,” they declared. But before we could even say “bar italia” they were quickly lost in the sea of bodies. Later on during the set, I caught a glimpse of them towards the front, dancing and headbanging.

When Bar Italia finally took the stage, they did so without a word. Then with a sudden crash, they opened their night with ‘Fundraiser,’ the euphoric single off their fresh album Some Like it Hot.

The crowd gave into that euphoria and began to move, some even singing along. I don’t even think there was a moment throughout the set where the crowd wasn’t dancing. Even with the band taking us through the highs and lows (sonically) of their new album, the crowd refused to stop moving. The crowd got even more electric when older tracks such as ‘punkt’ and ‘Missus Morality’ from Bar Italia’s 2023 album Tracey Denim, found their way into the set. The latter getting a majority of the crowd around me singing along.

Bar Italia closed their set with one of their new rippers, ‘Cowbella.’ The final thrash of the night for the crowd. Just as they opened, they closed their set with a few words, or at least from what I remember. Because I only seem to remember the parting words of the two long-time Bar Italia fans humbly bragging “there is a mystery to them, and that’s why I love them.”

Read more about Bar Italia’s Some Like it Hot.