Show Review: The Vaccines @ Le Bataclan
Written by Felicie Ginion
The Vaccines @ Le Bataclan - Paris, France - April 21st 2026
On Tuesday, 21st April, the London-based band The Vaccines took over the iconic Parisian venue Le Bataclan. The show was part of their recently completed European anniversary tour, celebrating 15 years since the release of their debut album What Did You Expect from the Vaccines. Since its release, the album has shaped the band’s career, taking them from small venues to international stages. This show felt like a return to where it all started.
Gans opened the night and quickly set the tone. Their stage presence was immediate, with no need to build up the energy. As the set reached halfway, the drummer made his way into the crowd, transforming part of the floor into a performance space. The rest of the band maintained the rhythm without interruption. The addition of the saxophone and flute gave the set a slightly unexpected, rougher texture preventing it from becoming predictable. The performance remained loud and consistent, leaving little room for silence, and the audience never really had an opportunity to settle.
As The Vaccines took to the stage under the opening notes of Blow It Up, the crowd reacted immediately. Energy built quickly across the room, and there was a strong feeling of anticipation as the set began to unfold. From the first songs, the atmosphere turned into a continuous singalong, with the audience enjoying a catalogue of early tracks that defined the band’s rise to fame. Wrekin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra) began almost immediately, shifting the fans' energy to a more excited and energetic vibes. They jumped around and followed the band's every movement. Rather than slowing things down, the song reinforced the pace of the set, keeping things sharp and intense from the beginning.
As the set moved forward, songs such as Post Break Up Sex and Norgaard sustained the energy of the show. The fans' response to the songs felt immediate and natural, rather than forced. It really showed the connection between band and audience, built up over the years. They moved on to softer songs, showing real emotion and vulnerability as they played Somebody Else's Child and later granted us an acoustic version of No Hope, creating a sweet and poignant moment of contrast in an otherwise mostly fast-paced set.
Towards the end of their set, the band introduced a new song called Ten Years Too Far, hinting that they have been working on their forthcoming seventh studio album. The group closed their set with All My Friends Are Falling In Love, resetting the energy and leaving the room on a more open note that felt less like a final statement and more like something left lingering in the room.
