Sixteen years after the release of their debut album Tourist History, Northern Ireland’s Two Door Cinema Club have plenty of reasons to celebrate. The indie rock trio brought their Tourist History 15th Anniversary Tour to The Anthem on Oct. 11, delivering a brisk, danceable set that demonstrated why the album remains such an enduring favorite.
The performance also marked a return to the scene of a significant milestone for the band. During their sold-out appearance at The Anthem in March 2024, bassist Kevin Baird announced that the evening represented the largest headlining concert of Two Door Cinema Club’s career to that point. Returning to the same venue more than two years later, the trio had an opportunity to celebrate the music that started it all.
Released in 2010, Tourist History introduced the world to the band’s irresistible combination of bright, interlocking guitars, propulsive rhythms, and memorable pop melodies. Songs such as “What You Know,” “Something Good Can Work,” and “Undercover Martyn” helped establish Two Door Cinema Club as one of the defining indie rock acts of the early 2010s. I was particularly impressed to hear thousands of fans immediately recognize the opening notes of “Undercover Martyn” and enthusiastically sing along to its refrain at The Anthem. The song remains an unstoppable crowd-pleaser.
Watch the official music video for “Undercover Martyn” on YouTube:
Singer and guitarist Alex Trimble, guitarist Sam Halliday, and bassist Baird revisited all 10 tracks from the album’s original standard edition, along with bonus tracks “Costume Party” and “Kids.” Rather than perform the record sequentially, they distributed its songs throughout the evening, mixing in selections from their subsequent releases.
The show opened with “Cigarettes in the Theatre,” the same exhilarating introduction that kicks off Tourist History. “I Can Talk” followed immediately, maintaining the momentum with its restless guitar lines and distinctive vocal hooks. “Come Back Home” and “This Is the Life” continued the early emphasis on the band’s debut.
The set also demonstrated that Two Door Cinema Club’s musical identity extends well beyond their first record. “Sleep Alone,” “Next Year,” and “Sun” represented 2012’s Beacon, while “Changing of the Seasons” brought the sharp, disco-influenced sound of the band’s 2013 EP into the mix.
Later selections included “Lavender” and “Are We Ready? (Wreck)” from Gameshow, along with “Wonderful Life” from 2022’s Keep on Smiling. Those songs illustrated the group’s willingness to embrace synthesizers and more polished pop production without abandoning the guitar-driven energy that first attracted listeners.
Still, Tourist History was unquestionably the evening’s centerpiece. The final stretch brought together “Undercover Martyn,” “You’re Not Stubborn,” and “Eat That Up, It’s Good for You” before the band closed with its signature song, “What You Know.”
Watch the official music video for “What You Know” by Two Door Cinema Club on YouTube:
Portland, Oregon, indie electronic outfit STRFKR opened the evening with a lively 40-minute set that complemented Two Door Cinema Club’s dance-friendly sound. Led by founder Joshua Hodges, the band specializes in a blend of psychedelic pop, shimmering synthesizers, and infectious electronic rhythms.
STRFKR drew heavily from its 2013 album Miracle Mile, opening with “While I’m Alive” and including “Malmo,” “Kahlil Gibran,” and “Golden Light.” The group also revisited its earlier work with “Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second,” one of its best-known songs, and “Mystery Cloud” from 2011’s Reptilians.
More recent material included “Under Water/In Air” from 2024’s Parallel Realms, while “Maps” and “Open Your Eyes” represented 2016’s Being No One, Going Nowhere.
STRFKR wrapped up with “Bury Us Alive,” closing a compact set that provided a fitting introduction to an evening devoted to catchy melodies and danceable indie rock.
Two Door Cinema Club’s performance underscored the staying power of a debut album whose songs still sound remarkably fresh. Sixteen years on, the band’s combination of nimble guitars, insistent beats, and melodic exuberance remains an irresistible invitation to dance.
Here are some photos of Two Door Cinema Club — but first pictures of opener Strfkr — performing live at The Anthem on Oct. 11, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Ben Eisendrath.
