By Lauren Meaney
On 6th March 2025, Teen Suicide’s long-awaited UK tour brought them to The Joiners in Southampton, marking their second ever show across the Atlantic.
Teen Suicide started as Sam Ray’s lo-fi bedroom project in the early 2010s, blending punk, emo, and noise with a raw, DIY feel. Their 2012 album, i will be my own hell because there is a devil inside my body, became a cult favorite, and 2016’s It’s the Big Joyous Celebration, Let’s Stir the Honeypot expanded their sound. The band has broken up, changed names (briefly American Pleasure Club), and shifted styles multiple times, but their messy, emotional energy has kept them a staple of the underground scene.
The night kicked off with London-based itoldyouiwouldeatyou, an experimental six-piece who wasted no time getting the crowd moving. Their progressive music set the tone for the rest of the night, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for their future shows!
When Teen Suicide stepped out on the stage, the crowd’s initial restraint felt almost stereotypically British, with polite applause and quiet lulls between songs, but this changed quickly as the set progressed.
By their third song, God, a track they hadn’t performed in eight years, the energy in the room had shifted. It was a moment that longtime fans had been waiting for.
Frontman Sam Ray spent time between songs casually noodling on his guitar—his offhand, unpolished style adding to the show’s intimate, DIY spirit. The chemistry between the band members was undeniable, especially between Sam and Kitty Ray, who have been married since 2016. Their connection was evident throughout the performance, but particularly during Kitty’s lead vocal moment. The audience, now fully immersed, responded with cheers and whistles as Kitty’s vocals cut through the mix. Heavy yet warm, the track stood out as one of the strongest performances of the set, filling the small venue with its weighty, immersive sound. I’m yet to find the name of this song, but I believe it is currently unreleased.
Throughout the set, Teen Suicide’s signature blend of chaos and melody was clear. On Euphoria, the band explored darker tones, forming a sound that felt like Deftones colliding with lo-fi emo. The guitar snarled and howled with a weight you could feel in your chest, while Sam’s scream-vocals topped the track with a cathartic edge. Behind it all, Niko Wood’s drumming was unrelenting, driving the song forward.
The night steered effortlessly between moods. dead bird skeleton had the crowd in a frenzied mosh pit, only for it to dissolve into a quiet, clean outro with Sam standing alone, stripping things back to a sense of vulnerability. Teen Suicide’s refusal to sit comfortably in one genre is part of what makes them so compelling.
Towards the end of the night, Sam told the audience that the set was almost finished, adding, ‘we don’t do encores, they’re corny’. Yet, the final few songs still felt like a treat. When someone in the audience slipped out early, Kitty teased Sam, who was preparing for the next song: ‘You better play that song before everyone else leaves,’ she joked. He obliged by diving into the same things happening to me all the time, even in my dreams. Instantly, the room erupted, fans raising pints and singing along like it was a bittersweet anthem. The song featured an impressive solo from Sam, a moment that left the audience in awe before shifting into a soft, reflective outro.
The gentle chorus of voices during oh my god gave the room a fragile stillness, with Kitty watching Sam like no one else was there. For the final song, Sam played Come and See the Clown, an unreleased piece he introduced as his ‘favourite sad Teen Suicide song’. The vulnerability of the moment lingered, leaving the audience with something tender to carry home.
Before I left, I grabbed a copy of their 2015 compilation, dc snuff film / waste yrself, from the merch table. After listening to Teen Suicide for what feels like forever, hearing them live in such a small room made the experience feel both surreal and quietly profound.
Teen Suicide’s performance at The Joiners was a rare and special experience, showcasing both their chaotic energy, and emotional depth—qualities that have made them a favourite for years.
Photography & Text Copyright 2025 © Lauren Meaney/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Chloe Morris 
Alisha Lawton 
Tyler Whiting