Live Review: IDLES - O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester 28/02/2022
After the stellar releases of two fantastic albums during these tough times, it was finally possible for Bristol-based punks IDLES to get everyone jumping, singing, and crawling.
Crawler dominates the band’s set, being one of the first times these songs are played to a live audience. Joe Talbot and co. bring some of the best songs to life on the stage, starting with ‘Car Crash’ as the second track of the night and this was all it took to get everyone going. There were cheers, shouts, claps; but it all felt far more exciting than your average concert. The IDLES crowd has this electrifying atmosphere and it looks frightening to the average outsider, but being a part of it is one of the greatest experiences to be had.
The performance is intense but in the best way imaginable. Frontman Joe Talbot sets the night to be one no one will ever forget, just through his own unique stage persona. Being someone living in the punk scene, he is looking out for everyone and wants his fans to just have fun. Between songs he’s singing praises to the audience before him, he’s poking fun and making jokes, and it just shows that music is what brings out the best in him. Watching Talbot alone is a valid reason to spend the night seeing IDLES.
As the night winds down to an end, this is where one of the most memorable moments comes from. Past the manic excitement of ‘Danny Nedelko’, Talbot gets his first set of jeers of the night when he announces the band have only one song left to perform. He aims to reason with the crowd but the truth is, no one wants the night to end. No one wants IDLES to stop. When he shouted out about performing ten more songs instead, the crowd erupted with cheers and whistles - unfortunately this was just a jab, and the outfit ended with their interlude ‘The End’ followed by the Joy as an Act of Resistance hit ‘Rottweiler’. The crowd were going wild, using up those final precious moments to jump and dance and mosh like there was no tomorrow; however, this was the first of a three-night run by the band and tomorrow was very much real. Until then, live in the moment of possibly the best night of them all.
All lights, all sounds, all screams: an authentic IDLES show. One for the ages. If you are looking for a good night of taking your anger out in the most fun and safe way, then take it out alongside Joe Talbot and get yourself to an IDLES show!
Words by Jo Cosgrove
Photography by Amelia Jones
