LIVE FROM THE PIT: Love Rarely, Mishikui and Sunday Best

Under the glittering disco balls adorning the ceiling of The Grace, London, fans eagerly gathered for LOVE RARELY’s hotly anticipated release show of their debut album Pain Travels, via Big Scary Monsters. The follow up to 2024’s EP Lonely People, Pain Travels has garnered critical acclaim for the band’s charged lyrics and volatile, amped up sound, signalling the next progressive step for them. Releasing between their incredible support slot for CALLOUS DAOBOYS in early 2026 and their packed summer of festival appearances, this release show was LOVE RARELY’s initiation into a new era and a sign of the frenetic performances still to come in 2026.

The batshit energy didn’t have to wait for LOVE RARELY, it came out in full force with first support act SUNDAY BEST, hailing from the fringes of London. Self-confessed as a “gang of heathens”, the five-piece blend deafening emo and post-hardcore sounds with groove rhythms, turning mosh pits into dance pits within the same song. Dressed as a unit in black with yellow stitched highlights, lead singer Alex Ekong led the charge across a stage that frankly felt too small for their high intensity with a taunt of “we’re gonna make you work for this”, the bassist propelling himself around with high kicks and full body headbangs, while the guitarists traded off riffs and solos while bouncing around. 

The drummer was entirely locked in on thumping out hardcore beats, as Ekong shifted from no-nonsense singing and prolonged notes to visceral screams. Calling for the first pits of the night and upping the crowd’s ante, Ekong settled the audience into an anticipation-building crouch, the restless crowd bursting upwards as Ekong leapt into the slamming mosh pit, a fitting end to their fiery set and an explosive start to the night.

MISHIKUI brought the vivacious attitude of their London hometown, unleashing their punchy grunge shoegaze sound and gritty post-hardcore accents. When not focused on flawlessly hitting the notes on their intricate guitar solos or singer Harry Middleton’s raw, dominating screams, the band were hopping about the stage like Tigger on a sugar rush. Their hardcore sound encouraged bouts of mosh pits as screams and belting drum beats thundered through the venue. 

MISHIKUI didn’t have to call for the crowd to go feral, the fans understood the assignment and brought a frenzied mosh pit to the audacious grunge riffs. Close to wrapping up, Middleton summed up how feverish the night has been proclaiming how sweaty the band are, hesitantly following up with “I hope you are too? That’s a weird thing to wish on someone”. As much as they’ve been immersed in playing exceptionally, it’s funny moments like this that demonstrate why their lyrics are so relatable and fun to fling around to.

By the time LOVE RARELY bounded out on stage, the audience was wall-to-wall packed and practically sitting on the stage. There was just enough space for singer Courtney “CJ” Levitt to stride along the edge and bring her tenacious screams to opener Whiplash, with foreboding guitar riffs and funk elements over a pulsating beat and bass, a short and sourly sweet kick-off to their electric set. Levitt powered through forceful screams and flowing tones to deliver acidic lyrics on Severed, the audience singing back with evident emotion on their faces as they channeled the song’s lamentable energy. 

Guitarist Lew Taylor opened the mournful Haunted, giving way to Levitt’s raw vocals, while drummer Leo Godfrey drove through with a pounding beat and guitarist Dan Dewsnap rocketed through with a distorted riff. Mould saw the first demands of a energetic mosh pit which didn’t seem to lose steam for the entire set, building in speed for short and snappy Repulsed, while math-rock heavy-hitter Will paved the way for a circle pit, bassist Dan Gilson running his own circles on the rumbling notes. Bringing back fan favourites from their previous EP, Entropy was met with wild cheers and a crowd surfer who braved the low-hanging disco balls, the crowd infected by their tenacity and beaming as they safely deposited them back into the fray. 

And that’s what LOVE RARELY shows are all about - to get lost in the moment, to cathart with the band, to feel everything the songs emote and come out with a smile on your face and a croak to your voice after screaming along with them.

Words and photos: Julia Stark