LIVE REVIEW: 4 Non Blondes, Lucia & The Best Boys, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 24/06/2026
Photo Credit: Kevin O’Sullivan
Walking into a sweltering Shepherd’s Bush Empire, with temperatures still hovering well into the 30s despite the venue’s air conditioning working overtime, there was an unmistakable sense of anticipation. For many, this was the first chance in more than three decades to see 4 Non Blondes back on a UK stage. Like thousands of others, we arrived hoping to finally hear our favourite song of all time performed live. What we hadn’t expected was to leave talking just as much about the songs we didn’t know.
Lucia & The Best Boys looked completely at home on the Empire stage. Lucia Fairfull possesses one of those voices that instantly commands attention, blending the warmth and storytelling of Amy Macdonald with the attitude and edge of Chrissie Hynde, while remaining unmistakably herself. Even in the stifling heat she never stopped smiling, jokingly referring to herself as ‘Melting John’ between generous swigs from her water bottle as the audience laughed along.
Opening with So Hard, the Scottish outfit powered through Picking Petals, Wolf Cry, Better for the Worse, Angels Cry Too, Heartbreak Song and Lonely Girl. References to Scottish football and next year’s World Cup kept the mood light, while Lucia’s introductions revealed the emotional depth behind the songs. She explained that Heartbreak Song had been written six years ago but was only now being released, giving a heartfelt shout-out to her friend Abigail Morris, while Big Romance, originally born from sadness, had become an empowering anthem. With another UK tour already announced, Lucia & The Best Boys are destined for much bigger stages.
Since 4 Non Blondes split in 1994, Linda Perry has become one of the most influential songwriters and producers of the past quarter-century. Yet it was a period of profound personal reflection, brought about by serious health challenges, the loss of her mother and the making of her deeply personal documentary and solo album Let It Die Here, that ultimately drew her back to the band where it all began. This reunion therefore carried a fascinating question: what would a 2026 version of 4 Non Blondes actually sound like? The answer arrived immediately.
Opening with Train and Lilah, there was no attempt to ease the audience in with familiar favourites. This wasn’t a greatest hits package; it was a band making a statement. Introduced by her 11-year-old daughter, Perry emerged wearing her trademark platform boots, chains and tattoos, looking every inch the rock icon. Later, in one of the evening’s most touching moments, she welcomed her daughter back onto the stage before speaking candidly to the audience. She explained that while she understood fans wanted to hear the songs they grew up with, she was now sixty-one years old, a mother and a different person. She wanted to sing about who she is today. It almost sounded as though she was asking permission. She never needed to.
The applause that followed suggested the audience was ready to follow her wherever the music led. Before launching into Drama Queen, Perry joked that she had originally written the song for Courtney Love before laughing that Love “wasn’t capable of taking it,” adding, “So I thought… fuck that.” The Empire loved every second. What followed wasn’t a reunion clinging to former glories but a genuinely revitalised rock band producing some of the strongest material of its career.
Songs including What They Want, Mighty Lady, It Follows and Push and Shove carried a muscular edge that felt heavier than the band’s early recordings, while Nowhere, Strange Places and Spaceman showcased an adventurous confidence that refused to be confined by commercial expectations. Wallflower, Drop the Bomb, Don’t Wanna and Live Forever all featured soaring choruses wrapped in arrangements that blended classic alternative rock with rich Americana influences.
Perhaps most refreshing was Perry’s complete disregard for the conventions of today’s music industry. Many of the new songs comfortably stretched beyond the familiar three-minute format, allowing ideas to breathe and emotions to unfold naturally. Perhaps most impressive was the audience’s reaction. Fans who had arrived hoping for nostalgia were embracing songs they had never heard before. By the time Live Forever closed the main set, it already felt as though these songs belonged alongside the band’s classics rather than beneath them.
Throughout the evening Perry’s voice remained astonishing. The unmistakable cracks, screams and raw emotion that defined her in the early ’90s have lost none of their power, while decades of experience have added even greater depth to every lyric. The rest of the band were equally impressive. Christa Hillhouse kept the audience smiling with blonde jokes, Linda coaxed drummer Dawn Richardson to the front of the stage, prompting the delighted observation that “It looks so different here at the front of the stage,” while Roger Rocha quietly reminded everyone why he remains such an underrated guitarist, allowing his effortless playing to speak for itself. Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for.
As someone whose favourite song of all time is What’s Up?, perhaps we were always destined to love hearing it live. What surprised us was that it wasn’t even the highlight of the evening. The highlight was watching an audience that had spent the previous ninety minutes embracing brand-new music unite as one when Perry stepped down to the barrier for What’s Up?. Thousands of voices filled Shepherd’s Bush Empire in a moment that felt less like a concert and more like a shared celebration. It was joyous, emotional and utterly unforgettable.
Closing with Hollow, the band gently brought the evening back down to earth, ending a performance that celebrated where they had come from while looking confidently towards where they are going next. If you came to Shepherd’s Bush Empire hoping to relive 1993, you may have been surprised. If you came hoping to witness the rebirth of a truly great rock band, you left convinced. This wasn’t a nostalgia tour.
It was the beginning of a new chapter.
Based on what we witnessed at Shepherd’s Bush Empire, we wouldn’t be surprised if 2027 becomes the year 4 Non Blondes complete one of rock’s most remarkable rebirths. The songs unveiled here deserve audiences far beyond the loyal fans who packed the Empire, and they have all the ingredients to win over a new generation. Thirty years on, 4 Non Blondes aren’t simply back— it feels like they’re ready to become one of rock’s biggest stories all over again.
Written By: Kevin O’Sullivan
