British alternative rock favourites PLACEBO celebrated the 30th anniversary of their debut album with a special anniversary tour across Europe, and thankfully, Helsinki was one of the stops along the way. On October 18th, 2026, the band took over Veikkaus Arena, joined by Swedish alternative rock outfit KALLSUP as the evening’s support act.
Rather than putting together a typical anniversary setlist filled with the band’s biggest hits from across their entire career, PLACEBO decided to take things back to where it all began. The tour focused primarily on their first two albums, “Placebo” (1996) and “Without You I’m Nothing” (1998), bringing back songs that hadn’t been played live in more than two decades. It was an interesting approach, and one that made the evening feel particularly special. There were quite a few deep cuts that I had almost forgotten about, only to have the memories come rushing back as soon as those familiar opening notes filled the arena. Naturally, there were plenty of recognisable favourites too, but getting to hear songs like “Come Home,” “Bionic,” “Brick Shithouse,” “Lady of the Flowers,” and “Scared of Girls” made this a particularly nostalgic experience.
Another thing that made the evening stand out was the phone-free policy. PLACEBO had requested that audiences refrain from using their phones to take pictures or record videos during the performance, and I honestly loved it. I didn’t want to be that person pulling out a phone and distracting everyone around me just to jot down a few notes, so I simply put it away and enjoyed the show. And what a difference it made! Not seeing screens constantly popping up in front of you, or people watching the entire performance through their phone cameras, almost felt like a completely new concert experience. Instead, everyone could simply be present, enjoy the music, and immerse themselves in what was happening on stage. It reminded me of how live music is meant to be experienced, and I genuinely wish more artists would consider doing the same.
Musically, PLACEBO delivered a tight and engaging performance, taking us through a substantial part of their early catalogue. From the opening “Pure Morning” to “Teenage Angst,” “Without You I’m Nothing,” “My Sweet Prince,” “Bruise Pristine,” and the ever-classic “Nancy Boy,” there was plenty to enjoy. The encore was equally great, featuring “Every You Every Me,” a cover of DEPECHE MODE‘s “I Feel You,” and Kate Bush‘s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God),” before wrapping things up with “Leeloo.”
All-in-all, this was a wonderful trip down memory lane and a reminder of just how much music from those early PLACEBO records has stayed with us over the years. Between the unexpected deep cuts, the fantastic performance, and the refreshing phone-free atmosphere, this anniversary show was a memorable one. I was very glad to be part of it! Check out our photo gallery below…
Kallsup
Placebo
Photos by Laureline Tilkin
