by photojournalist Allison Davis
This night was the perfect finale to the interview I had the absolute pleasure of conducting a few weeks back with James Atkin. It is a rare treat to get to write not just once, but twice, for this one! There were a couple of “venue firsts” for me this week and, believe it or not, catching EMF at the Orpheum was one of them. Please, no judgment!
Smaller venues are a personal favorite of mine; they allow you to experience the music on a much more intimate, visceral level. Often, you even get the chance to have real conversations with the bands you’re there to see. This night was no exception, as I finally got to introduce myself in person to the man I’d only known through a Zoom call mid-January. James was just as pleasant in person as he was on screen in fact, his energy was completely contagious!
Flight by Nothing, a band out of Austin, Texas, kicked off the night. While they are a world away from the EMF vibe, they were quite good. They had a familiar sound, yet one that definitely carried its own unique edge. My brain kept going to Maroon 5, but I don’t feel that’s quite accurate. Give them a listen maybe someone can help me out, as I just can’t quite put my finger on it.
Then there was EMF and what can you say! Looking around the room, you could almost see the memories on people’s faces, picturing where everyone was in their lives back in the early 90s. Back then, you couldn’t step foot into a club anywhere without hearing “Unbelievable” blasting through the speakers. It was the soundtrack to an entire era. What’s truly impressive, though, is how their new music holds that exact same infectious feel, just delivered with a heavy, modern punch that fits 2026 perfectly.
They tore through the old favorites like “Unbelievable” and “Lies,” but also debuted a brand-new track, “Club UK,” for the Tampa crowd (though I spotted a couple of fans from Yorkshire who may have had a sneaky preview!). I personally was so appreciative of the mix that included New Order’s “Blue Monday” and The Prodigy’s “Firestarter” two songs my bestie and I used to sing on the regular. They even threw in Depeche Mode’s “Just Can’t Get Enough.” One thing you will learn about me reading these reviews: my music taste is all over the map, and I am perfectly okay with that.
The night was a total blast, even with my lack of a voice, which made it terribly difficult to sing along as loudly as I intended. I am so thankful to have had this opportunity. I often think to myself when I’m in these moments photographing bands I know and love: younger me would have never believed where I am now. So, cheers to what was an amazing night with EMF, and to the ones on the road ahead!
