Bristol punks IDLES show Ally Pally a good time and the potential for a better world at epic London love-in
“Are you ready to collide?” Joe Talbot asks, after splitting a crowd of 10,000 people right down the middle, all the way to the sound desk, just by saying “please”. Politeness rarely packs such a punch.
Division and collision appear to have become this country’s M.O. We’re now in the winter of our discontent – following a spring, summer and autumn offering much the same – but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a good time.
Few bands dance upon the rubble as captivatingly as IDLES. Their most recent album Tangk, released in February, is made up almost entirely of love songs – albeit ones flecked with buckshot made of grit. It resulted in a UK Number One and three Grammy nominations. Now they're here, a multi-night-stand, following an incredible stage-headliner at Glastonbury. Love, evidently, really is the ‘fing’.
Lambrini Girls show their affection in similarly impactful ways. “Alexandra Palace, who is ready to fuck?” singer-guitarist Phoebe Lunny inquires by way of welcome, before tearing into toxic masculinity takedown Big Dick Energy. The Brighton noise-punks are unphased by this venue’s scale, with Phoebe frequently climbing over the barrier to meet her public, saluting the “queer legends” in attendance during the rollicking Help Me I’m Gay. It’s a short set, but it’ll live long in the memory.
When Joe Talbot last stood on this stage, in December 2019, he described the prospect as “terrifying and confusing.” Undoubtedly a reference to his band’s surprising success, it was also, perhaps, an acknowledgement that the career landmark coincided with their brand of punk rock being branded preachy and sloganeering in some quarters (an opinion not necessarily helped by 2020’s Ultra Mono, represented by only one of the 24 tracks aired tonight).
Several big creative swings later, not least with 2021’s Crawler, and we’re back for the first of two sold-out nights, and what is surely the first engagement at The People’s Palace where said people are encouraged to chant “Fuck the king.”
The last few years have seen IDLES experiment with new singing styles, sounds and subject matter, which on record may seem disparate compared to earlier efforts, but live makes for two hours of relentless, cathartic brilliance. Aside from a five-minute break in proceedings to deal with a medical emergency in the crowd, during which Joe takes the opportunity to commend the NHS, there is little in the way of let up.
Things do start slow, mind, with atmospheric opener IDEA 01, its keys accompanied by white lights that look like a search party menacingly scanning through woodland, while guitarist Mark Bowen struts, his knees knocking, in a rather fetching dress – in one of the few moments he isn’t crowdsurfing with fellow guitarist Lee Kiernan.
When Collosus hits the button marked ‘rowdy’, though, Joe shows how much his confidence has grown since IDLES last played here. He stalks the stage, often in circles, eyes bulging, teeth clenched, like a prisoner subjected to a little too much solitary confinement. He’s more comfortable in his own skin, and being different things to different people during different songs. It’s this ability to go from wrong’un to hip-swivelling dandy at the drop of a hat that provides the cohesion between fair that’s boisterous (Mr Motivator, its lyrical reference to Conor McGregor removed in response to recent news) and sedately atmospheric (POP POP POP).
Everyone has their limitations, though, and despite Joe’s more varied vocal approach these days, his playful a cappella take on All I Want For Christmas Is You suggests Mariah Carey can rest easy. So, too, can IDLES in the knowledge that this fanbase is in it for the long-haul.
“We built bridges with you, and you carried us for the last 15 fucking years,” acknowledges Joe at one point. Admittedly, it’s easy to be part of something that advocates in song men talking about their feelings (Samaritans), the “beautiful” contributions of our immigrant population (Danny Nedelko), and the importance of not getting into a scrap with a bloke with permed hair (you know that one...)
“You’ve been perfect, we’ve been IDLES – Auf Wiedersehen,” Joe signs off, before a conclusive Rottweiler. Let’s keep building those bridges. Who knows where they’ll take us, and IDLES, next.
IDLES tour the UK until December 8.
