Concert Review: Crash Test Dummies – The Brook, Southampton
Sunday 18th October 2026
The venue was just about sorting out some issue with the otherwise always amazing lighting system when we arrived to The Brook. While Gareth Dunlop was on the bill as support act, he’s been replaced by Southampton’s finest song-writer, Dan O’Farrell. By the end of his stunning set the lights have been fully fixed. After a short brake, Crash Test Dummies walked on the stage with the kind of easy confidence only a band with three decades of peculiar charm can muster. Also, this was the last stop of the “Celebrating 35+ Years” tour.
The Brook was packed with people who clearly knew exactly what they came for: warm baritone vocals, wry storytelling, and that unmistakable blend of folk‑rock oddness that made the band famous. From the moment Brad Roberts stepped up to the mic, the atmosphere shifted into that cosy, slightly eccentric zone the Canadian rock band from Winnipeg inhabit so naturally.
Roberts’ voice — that deep, velvety rumble — was in excellent form. It’s one of those rare instruments that doesn’t seem to age so much as settle, like a good whisky. The whole band sounded like it’s 1994 again. The Brook’s intimate layout amplified this effect; you could feel the resonance in the floorboards. It’s not often you get to hear a voice like that in a venue where you can practically count the strings on the guitars, after you counted all the rubber ducks dotted around on the stage.
From the opening song “The Ghosts That Haunt Me” this became an event of nostalgic smiles and head bobbing. Up until of course the encore, when the opening notes of “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” appeared, the crowd lit up, sang along, song after song, enjoying the evening of a Sunday they’ll probably never forget.
The band’s humour was front and centre throughout the concert. Crash Test Dummies have always had a quirky streak, and they didn’t shy away from it. Roberts’ dry commentary between songs landed perfectly — little sideways jokes, odd anecdotes, and that signature deadpan delivery. It gave the show a conversational feel, like most gigs at The Brook, as if the audience had been invited into the band’s living room for a private party.
Musically, the set was tight and confident. For me, one of the highlights of the set was the deep-cut, melancholic “Heart of Stone” that meant to bring us down. So for the song to have a proper impact Robert gently asked the audience to shut the fuck up to a level that we hear a pin drop. It worked perfectly. Ellen Reid’s harmonies added a soft shimmer that balanced Roberts’ low register beautifully. A beautiful song, delivered perfectly.
(141 photos from this gig – use this link)
The band moved through their catalogue with an easy flow. The arrangements stayed faithful to the originals but carried a fresh energy. A pit stop in the set with “Happy Birthday” sing-along to give an audience member a time she’ll always remember. It feels clear that the band members still enjoy playing these songs, and that enjoyment translated directly into the room. This concert was nostalgic, yes, but also genuinely fun. A reminder of why these songs became such a phenomenon in the first place. By the end of the night, The Brook felt like it had hosted something quietly special. Crash Test Dummies delivered a show that was quirky, warm, musically sharp, and unmistakably theirs. Southampton got a performance that was both professionally polished and charming. Judging by the smiles on the way out, exactly what the crowd hoped for.
