On Wednesday, October 9, Australian punk band Trophy Eyes and British shoegaze band Split Chain took over Prague’s Bike Jesus, an extension of a community bike workshop turned bar and event space. The bands had no problem filling the small venue, with people packed into every inch and even spilling out the door near the coat check and merch table.
Split Chain took the stage first. People continued to file inside during the first few songs of their set as vocalist Roberto Martinez-Cowles constantly encouraged fans to take a few steps forward to fill up the space in front of the stage. Split Chain’s inventive combination of shoegaze and nu-metal, or what they call “nu-gaze,” really got the crowd going. The energy and motion of the 5-piece band was impressive, especially for such a small stage. They filled the room with their presence, telling fans to headbang and dance along throughout.
After Split Chain, the room was heavy with excitement as fans camped out in front of the stage or at the railing near the bar, securing a good view for Trophy Eyes. There were many glittery “I <3 Trophy Eyes” shirts to be seen in the crowd as fans excitedly chattered and pushed their way toward the front.
Trophy Eyes was welcomed to the stage with enthusiastic applause. They opened with their hit single “Sydney” from their most recent album Suicide and Sunshine released in 2023. The first few minutes of their performance were intense and full of emotion as dark, dramatic lighting and quick flashes of energy swept over each band member on stage.
Their set progressed smoothly and quickly, with a good mix of newer songs and older favorites. Lead vocalist John Floreani’s stage presence was dynamic and easy as his movement flowed naturally with the music.
When the band did pause, it was to express genuine gratitude – Floreani made sure to thank fans for coming out on a “school night” and gave a shoutout to the promoters and event staff for helping him with something earlier in the day.
Floreani also encouraged fans to get out their cell phones, but not for the reason you may think. He asked the audience to follow Split Chain wherever they stream music and show them some support. He then advocated for the entire music scene itself, telling fans to buy merch, support local bands, and “help the scene grow.” His authenticity and passion shone through in that moment, and his statement was backed up by the sale of signed Trophy Eyes posters at the merch table marked “pay what you can.”
They jumped right back into the set, with their classic 2014 single “Choke” and their new single “Enmore” being standout tracks. Fans went especially crazy for “Choke,” with some of the bolder audience members hopping onto the stage and doing a lap around Floreani where he stood just to dive off again into the crowd.
The anthem “You Can Count On Me” had the whole room singing along at the top of their lungs. They closed out the set with “Chlorine,” a track from 2016 but one of their most popular to date. The crowd went wild, leaving their all out in the mosh pit.
Trophy Eyes delivered a truly electric show at the intimate venue of Bike Jesus. Floreani’s authenticity and care for both the fans and the music was evident throughout, creating a positive and energetic environment where everyone was welcome in the pit. As the band left the stage, they promised to be back in Prague very soon.
Follow Trophy Eyes: Instagram // Facebook // Website
Follow Split Chain: Instagram // Facebook // Website
