A Theatrical Fever Dream in a Living Room Crown

13 November, O2 Academy Islington – London

words by Martyna Rozenbajgier

Most gigs start with dimming lights. Nemo’s began with a vibe – the kind you only get when an artist knows exactly who they are and invites you to step directly into their world. The stage looked like a slightly eccentric but impossibly cool living room, complete with mismatched furniture and lamps that looked like they were plotting something. Spoiler: they were.

Before Nemo even appeared, support act Punchbag warmed up the crowd with their genre-blurring, emotionally loud energy – the perfect chaotic appetizer for an artist who treats a concert like theatre.

And speaking of theatre: one of those lamps lit up and started talking, announcing that Nemo would not be performing tonight… only for Nemo to interrupt and sweep onto the stage wearing a crown, delivering an entrance that felt less like a pop star arrival and more like a character stepping into their storyline.

They launched straight into “Ride My Baby,” instantly electrifying a crowd that was refreshingly diverse – teenagers in glitter eyeliner dancing next to older fans who looked like they’d fallen into the right place at exactly the right time. It was a rare, beautifully mixed audience where every age, style, and identity fit comfortably in the same room.

During “Easy,” the entire venue swayed together, hands waving in gentle arcs like they’d all coordinated it in advance. Then the temperature shifted for “God’s a Raver.” Nemo explained the track was born somewhere between Paris and London, inspired by a night out at the infamous club Haven. They taught the crowd a dance routine – and everyone, from Gen Z fashion kids to middle-aged queer couples, joined in. It had the same communal, joyfully unhinged energy as Chappell Roan’s “Hot To Go!”

The theatricality kept building. Before “Frog Swamp,” Nemo paused the show to award a certificate for the Best Dressed Frog – a moment of pure, camp absurdity that only Nemo could pull off with both sincerity and sparkle.

The journey continued through the dreamy “Arthouse,” the cheeky chaos of “I Got High at the Party,” and the emotional gravity of “Black Hole.” By the time “Eurostar” and “Unexplainable” rolled in, the living-room stage felt more like a collective safe place: cosy, glowing, and packed with people who felt connected, not just entertained.

“Casanova” brought the flare, and “The Code,” their Eurovision-winning anthem, brought the release. Hearing the entire room scream those lyrics back felt less like a finale and more like a shared proclamation.

And in perfect Nemo fashion, the night didn’t end with applause. Instead, they filmed a mini skit onstage – a meta, theatrical wink to the audience – later posted on their socials like a souvenir from a fever dream.

Nemo didn’t just perform in London. They hosted us. They gave a living room legs, a lamp a personality, and a crowd a reason to dance like nobody was watching. It wasn’t just a show. It was community wrapped in theatre and crowned with joy.

photos by @orchi_day