Live Review: Damiano David - Roundhouse, London 28/09/2025
Damiano David showcases the importance of steering away from the path that was laid out for you at London’s Roundhouse through a show for most ages, warning; there will be swearing.
Platforms, flashing lights, a massively talented band, and a fast rising popstar that is clearly home on stage made for an absolutely wonderful evening at Roundhouse, a venue new to me. My first visit to the theatre was for An Evening with Damiano David, and it made for the perfect backdrop. David was launched into the spotlight through his performance at the Eurovision with rock band Måneskin but has since developed his own taste and catalogue through recently released debut album ‘FUNNY little FEARS’. On the album are incredible pop anthems such as ‘Born With a Broken Heart’, ‘The First Time’, and ‘Voices’.
I didn’t think I could adore those hook-filled pop anthems any more than I already do until I heard Damiano and his band perform them live. Despite still coming down from a cold, his vocal performance blew me away and showcased how well he knows his own abilities; writing songs tailor-made for himself. He truly took the concept of performing, together with opening up and connecting with his audience throughout the evening as he shared bitesize thoughts and stories on the songs he performed. Damiano spoke about living a fast paced life, and “having it all” despite not feeling the happiness people expect to come with that, and how he needed to carve his own path, which is what he has done for himself on his debut and which he will hopefully continue doing on future releases.
The born performer brought his entire setlist with suave as he took the stage and made it his home for the evening, personal favourites ‘Nothing Breaks Like a Heart’ and ‘Next Summer’ seemed to be come from his very core as he took the mic and shared it with his audience who knew to sing along to every word. Incredible drum rolls made for thumping, and heartbeat-increasing rhythms that truly elevated these tracks we’d all come to know and adore. For single ‘Perfect Life’, Damiano David slowed the pace right down, as he introduced the song by talking to us about understanding that the ‘perfect life’ he was living was not up to his idea of perfection. He then followed with a beautifully emotive, and openhearted rendition of the song that showed the heart that beats behind these songs.
This welcome breather allowed us all to take a step back and take it all in, something I told myself to do from the very first tones of the show. A performer so charismatic and open about the struggles behind the music is an important addition to the charts, our playlists, and the current musical landscape that is filled with TikTok-kids and short attention spans. On Sunday evening we all took two hours to be fully present with Damiano David. Include at least two outfit changes, quite a bit of swearing, because he is Italian after all, a stunning love song in ‘Mars’, which he dedicated to our loved ones, and a second rendition of ‘The First Time’, and you have an absolutely incredible evening celebrating live pop music!
Words by Laura Rosierse
Photography by Celia Medina
