Echo and the Bunnymen - Roadrunner Boston MA June 11, 2026 Review

 

Echo and the Bunnymen
Roadrunner, Boston MA
Thursday June 11, 2026

Support - Joe McMahon Trio

We've done this before haven't we?  As a long time fan when I saw the dates initially announced for the tour I started to wonder "How will this be".  Advertised as a best of tour I had to say my interest was piqued.  Echo and the Bunnymen have long been on my Mt. Rushmore of bands (from that era).  It was a good excuse to go, and I was able to muster up some friends to come along.  As an added bonus I grabbed hard tickets at the venue box office w/no fees. Read that again, no fees and hard tickets?  

Admittedly I was curious so I was checking out live videos of full shows.  I was checking on set lists (no changes, but I also expected that).  Many of the videos have been pulled whether or not the band was on or off.  First, I need to say the "BAND" was never off.  Holy smokes.  The Bunnymen were a classic four piece.  I get it., but when you "fill out the sound" all is forgiven.  Singer Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Sergeant are the original members with four additional musicians to support.  

The shows had been up and down in reading.  Either fans were noting "nothings really changed, Ian mumbles, we had to sing a lot more than we thought, Ian sits down etc".  Then there were reviews like "wow they look and sound great"  So, we had to roll the dice, had no idea what to expect I guess.

To add, just a few nights before Ian was involved in an accident that resulted in the postponement and rescheduling of a tour stop.  So would we have "that" to possibly deal with, but the show went on as planned.

Taking the stage about 930 the band started off with "Going Up" and "All that Jazz".  Casual fans might have been wondering "isn't this a hits tour" but to the bands defense these two songs often seem to open shows and have been in the set list for a long long time.  It seemed to get a bit more rowdy when "Heads Will Roll" took off and I started to exhale.  "We got the good version of Ian tonight!"

Alas.

The set continued.  Ian would speak now and then, but nobody seems to understand a word he says.  Lots of speculation on substance issues, or the accident would come to mind.  Then the band would take off on "Seven Seas" or "Rescue" and all would be forgiven.  They "sounded" excellent.

By the time we got to Villiers Terrance Ian was seated.  He'd remain on the stool moving forward.  Some reports I read noted Ian said something about the accident and needing to sit down.  The booze was moved next to him and we continued on.  Ian never removed the sunglasses and seemed to plod along.  I read a great line about how this should be Will Sergeants victory lap, but Ian seems to sabotage things.

Still, they "sounded" good but it just watching someone in a continual state of decline.  Bring on the Dancing Horses and then in to the Killing Moon were great set closers.  The band, historically, would leave the stage after The Killing Moon and come back for two.  Ian called an audible and I thought "oh we are going to get a set change!".  Nope, it was just Ian not wanting to leave the stage before Lips Like Sugar.  Well, we got that THEN Ian and the band left the stage.

The crowd started to head towards the door and the band did return for the song "Ocean Rain" and this is where, if you've heard anything about this show, it "went down".   Apparently there were some talkers down front.  Ian spoke to them, even saying something like "will throw you out. And give your money back" and they continued.  Then, it seemed to happen again.  Ian got upset, called the person(s) a name, and walked off.  In the video (its been pulled) you could see Will sort of "shrug".  Curious how things went down backstage.

Its caused debates on both sides.  Talkers are annoying, but also as the artist, can you power through?  Even if you had to remove them, stop the song and start all over?  Not sure, but the "walk off" was, admittedly crappy.

The full setlist is here

Although I am not on Reddit, here are some fan reactions.

All in all it was better than I expected, but since I've realized the band is in a tough spot.  Can they continue with Ian seemingly put off by it all.  Couple that with the wildly publicized drinking (and sadly drug) use one needs to wonder.  Hopefully not, but in their own words "Nothing Lasts Forever..."