Rock Regeneration

Apr11

Therapy?/Lonely The Brave

on April 11th, 2014 at 20:29

Mo’Club, Southampton

On a warm Friday evening in Southampton what better way could there be to spend an evening than in the company of Larne’s finest, Therapy?

A long and eventful journey around Southampton eventually finds us at a new venue tucked away in the most unlikely of places-a trading estate! Southamptons Mo’ Club, a one-time roller-skating rink is transformed into a music venue, and what a fine venue it is too! Fresh from celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Troublegum, the band are afforded a larger venue than recent years, which they have no problem filling.

And so to the music. Tour support Lonely The Brave take to the stage with little fuss and do what they do best. This 5 piece Rock band open with “Black Saucers” and immediately fill the room with their big noise. Immediately I am getting a big Gavin Rossdale influence in the vocal, but the Bush influence ends there. LTB deliver straight up hard Rock with clangy guitars, heavy drumming and a brooding bass almost throughout. My only gripe would be why vocalist David insists on singing from the side of the stage, when the other band members are taking the limelight. Gripe aside they deliver more great songs in the shape of “Trick Of The Light” and the excellent “Back Roads”. One could be forgiven for making a Twin Atlantic reference in places, but LTB have a unique sound all their own. They end on the lengthy “Call Of Horses” and leave to decent applause.

Lonely The Brave 1–2–3–4–5

A lengthy band break is eventually ended as 3 of Rock’s “elder statesmen” take to the stage. Therapy? walk onstage to a huge roar and dive straight in with Troublegum opener “The Knives”. We all singalong like it’s 1994! Andy (Cairns) looking leaner than ever is in celebratory mood. Live favourite “Screamager” for once gets an early outing due to the LP tracklisting, but the response is no less manic! While Neil (drums) is “buried” behind his kit Michael (bass) is grinning from ear to ear. He encourages hands in the air rather regularly tonight-we duly oblige! Tonight isn’t just a best-of, there are some surprises as well. “Nowhere” gets a Beatles mash-up before “Die Laughing” is dedicated to Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain. While tonight’s sound is louder than normal it is still Therapy? at their finest-in the live arena.

Therapy? 1–2–3–4–5–6–7–8–9–10–11–12

When they get to “Isolation” it’s haunting how much they sound like Joy Division tonight. Before they play “Unrequited” Andy takes time to rant about domestic violence and the government policy and answer to the problem. It’s a touch out of character but nevertheless gets a good reaction. They end the first set with “Brainsaw” to great applause before returning with some classics of old. Live favourite “Evil Elvis” gets the crowd moving once more before the brilliant “Auto Surgery”. “Misery” is anything but while “Totally Random Man” is simply great. “Speedball” sets us up nicely for an energetic “Bloody Blue” but they save the best til’ last with one more surprise. “Teethgrinder”, their staple live number is greatly received in the pit, as is “Opal Mantra’. The surprise comes in the shape of Judas Priest’s “Breaking The Law”. Once more though we all wait patiently for our cue to sing “Potato Junkie”. Andy conducts us until we’re all singing. “James Joyce is…..” Once again they create yet another mash-up, this time Iggy’s “I Wanna Be Your Dog”.

The whole band make it a wonderful finale before taking a bow. They thank us the fans while name-dropping the first venue they played in this town some 20 years ago, The Joiners Arms. 25 years in the business and there’s plenty left in the tank, certainly on tonights evidence. We all leave, looking forward to album number 14 and the next tour.

Set Lists
Therapy?
Knives
Screamager
Hellbelly
Stop It (Your Killing Me)
Nowhere (Inc Nowhere Man – The Beatles)
Die Laughing
Unbeliever
Trigger Inside
Lunacy Booth
Isolation (Inc She’s Lost Control- Joy Division)
Turn
Femtex

Unrequited
Brainsaw
Evil Elvis
Auto Surgery
Misery
Pantopon Rose
Totally Random Man
Speedball
Bloody Blue
Teethgrinder
Opal Mantra
Breaking The Law (Judas Priest)
Potato Junkie (Inc I wanna Be Your Dog – Iggy Pop)

Lonely The Brave
Black Saucers
Victory Line
Trick Of The Light
Bass Start
Deserter
Back Roads
Call Of Horses

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