Back in 2019, when IDLES made their first US stops in Baltimore and DC I came out of the experience saying believe the hype, and after having again witnessed this band take the stage at the 9:30 Club last year for two sold out shows and then again this past Wednesday, I can say with no uncertainty that IDLES more than lives up to the promise of that hype.
IDLES has become one of the most anticipated touring bands in recent years, selling out huge venues and leaving the crowds in heaping, sweaty messes at the end. After a blistering set by Arizona hip hop duo, Injury Reserve, IDLES took the stage and kicked into the frequent lead off number, “Colossus,” a slow burner that quickly turns into a frenetic haze of manic guitar fury as Joe Talbot (vocals) shouts “It’s coming!” amidst Lee Kiernan’s whip of a guitar as he climbed over the barricade to wade into the crowd with that guitar cord taught behind him. Then, taking a bit mid-song, Joe asked the crowd to part. “Open up the crowd left to right” Then seeing someone in the middle of the pack, “See the man with the pink cowboy hat? I fucking love you!”
“Are you ready to love?,” Joe shouted before the mass of people ran together to the sound of the final bits of “Colossus.” An early taste of what was to come.
“What a fucking gift to be in one best cities on planet earth. I know you are occupied by some of the worst human beings on earth, but some of the best cities are. Underneath that layer of SCUM is something very beautiful… YOU!” Dedicating the song, “Mother” to this crowd, that rhythmic tap-tap-pop of Jon Beavis (drums) and Adam Devonshire (bass) set the tone as Lee and Christina “Tina” Maynard, who was filling in for the new father, Mark Bowen, on guitar became like twin suns revolving around the sides of the stage. Tina, having previously filled in for Lee on some dates last year, was not new to the IDLES craziness. In fact, taking a breather in between numbers, Joe, introducing Tina to this DC crowd and noting this would be her final show with the band of this tour, was met with chants of “TINA, TINA, TINA.”
IDLES certainly is a contact sport, as bodies of rose and fell in the middle of the floor as more than a few crowd surfed throughout and at other times moshed to “Divide and Conquer.” But it wasn’t just confined to the physical as Joe expressed, “Fuck the king” to which the crowd responded by responding in kind. “To some of you that may just be a chant, but to us it’s fucking beautiful!”
Watch a video for “WAR” on YouTube:
Giving the band a second wind, IDLES proceeded to roll on like a Mack truck through fan favorites like “Never Fight a Man With a Perm” and “War,” with flashing strobes, smoke and Jon Beavis’ utterly brilliant drumming piercing the chaos. But it was the latter part of this set that was the undeniable highlight of the evening as everything was thrown into certainly one of my favorite songs, “Danny Nedelko” including the return of “the man with the pink cowboy hat” as he ended up through the crowd and eventually atop Joe Talbot’s shoulders to sing along with the crowd. The band then finished in style with their frequent finisher, “Rottweiler” with, what seemed like, every light in the place exploding in strobing frenzy. A chaotic end the only way it could end – in a sweaty, beautiful heap – as those in the Anthem slowly made their way out; exhausted buy happy.
IDLES wrap up their tour the US, but you can find out more on their website.
The set list included:
Colossus
Car Crash
Mr. Motivator
Grounds
Mother
Divide and Conquer
The Beachland Ballroom
Never Fight a Man With a Perm
Crawl!
1049 Gotho
The Wheel
Television
A Hymn
War
Wizz
I’m Scum
Danny Nedelko
Rottweiler
Here are more photos of IDLES performing at The Anthem:
