Reef + Kerbdog live @ O2 Academy, Bristol 
Show date: 24th October 2025
For a variety of reasons, I didn't technically see Kerbdog (the main one being that the venue was insanely packed and I had a thirst on) but I did hear a lot and I can absolutely confirm that the sound, energy and crowd response was top notch so I'm hoping they'll keep touring for the foreseeable.
Now, the main event was Reef playing their debut album, 'Replenish', in full from start to finish and, quite fittingly, all three levels of the O2 Academy were fit to bursting. From the opening throb of 'Feed Me', the whole building was transported back 30 years to the glorious mid-90s when summer's were long, social media didn't exist and a band like Reef could still get signed by Sony. Then, like a pro boxer, we were hit by the double whammy of 'Naked' and 'Good Feeling', the album's singles, still sounding full of honesty, raw energy and punch. As one of my gig companions said, "I didn't know they still had it in them".
A personal highlight for me was 'Together', a favourite song that I've never heard performed live aside from the one time my high school band butchered it in a lecture theatre one Thursday lunch time. 'Choose To Live' was life affirming, as it should be, and 'Loose' positively fizzed with the kind of energy younger bands can only dream of. An encore of non-'Replenish' songs ('Place Your Hands', 'Yer Old', 'Summer's In Bloom' etc.) sent the crowd off happy and, dare I say it, replenished into the cold Bristol night air. Reef are, and always have been, good for what ails you but that's just my opinion - we've all got that artist to turn to in our times of need and celebration, haven't we?
More information:
Reef - https://www.facebook.com/reefmusic
Kerbdog - https://www.facebook.com/kerbdogband