Music / Reviews
Review: Do Nothing, Thekla – ‘Angular riffs and high energy’
On a gloomy Bristol evening perhaps fit for an evening of post-punk. I made my way to the Thekla, one of Bristol’s most iconic venues.
First up tonight are Humour who were fulfilling a lifetime ambition by performing on a boat! The crowd did Humour proud and got there early to huddle around the darkly lit stage which was before long a large crowd.
I know firsthand from guitarist Ross Patrizio who seemed full of gratitude for the mass attendance tonight. The band came straight out of the blocks screaming in unison and clearly up for the task.
is needed now More than ever
The first thing I thought was Forward Russia! An influence maybe? Halfwit starts with an alarm-like riff, a call to arms, if you aren’t listening you should be.
The band jumps around as the singer screams, yelps, scatts even? He clings to the mic stand for his life.
You can tell this band really means it, the passion leads right through them as their infectious energy leaps from them into the crowd and comes straight back at them from a now-full Thekla from floor to balcony.
Big Money is anthemic ear-pleasing punk and I can see why BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq has given it a spin.
After that great start, this evening was off to a flyer! I filtered back through now an almost impenetrable crowd all crammed in like sardines in a boat.
Do Nothing launch straight into Gangs and I can tell instantly the crowd is clearly filled with huge fans, there is no need to win anyone over here.
Glueland explodes next as singer and lyricist Chris Bailey spits and twitches delivering the line “There is no devil like a man in the middle” with snarling intent.
“Thank you for coming in such force,” he says as you can’t fault the band’s fanbase tonight, arrived in force and ready to sing.
Ivy propels me to dance to the drum beat from start to finish, Ameba is a thump to the chest, a fist to the air and a kick to the drum.
There is 10 second break for the encore then Moving Targets proceeds with pink polka-dot lights covering the crowd
The band then launched ourselves into LeBron James, the reason I was at the gig and the reason I have been keeping tabs on this band ever since.
Handshakes closes the night complete with a crowd singalong outro. All I could see were people clinging to each word with hands on hearts.
Big shout out to Kasper Sandstrom angular riffs, high energy and wand like guitar skills which filled my ears from start to finish as I had the closest in arm pit view imaginable.
Great gig, great crowd, hreat venue.
Main photo: Leilasparksphotography
Read next:
- Review: Misery Loves Company – ‘Safe, fun and uplifting’
- Review: Alexander O’Neal, Central Warehouse – ‘A chance to see a legend’
- Review: PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGDS PIGS, SWX – ‘They command the crowd’
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
