Idles Kick Off the Weekend with Wild Friday Night at Terminal 5
October 15, 2021
Idles Kick Off the Weekend with a Wild Friday Night at Terminal 5
Idles – Terminal 5 – October 15, 2021
Earlier this month, Idles frontman Joe Talbot declared that his band aims “to be the best live band on the planet.” An admirable goal but a lofty one. Whether Idles achieve it, no one can say they didn’t try. After two-plus years away from New York City, British post-punks Idles made their mighty return to a packed house at Terminal 5 on Friday night. The band is touring ahead of the November release of Crawler, their fourth full-length expected to build on the breakout success of 2017’s Brutalism. Never one to take his success for granted, Talbot was effusive from the start: “We are so fucking grateful for the way you make us feel every time we come,” he said. “I missed you very, very much.”
It’s clear the feeling was mutual. Their fans—a committed base known as the AF Gang—positively erupted on the floor on standbys from the band’s righteous-anger oeuvre, like “Colossus,” “Mother” and “Danny Nedelko.” And the energy only ticked up. Talbot, who spit, stomped and shook his ass (arse?) all night, pulled up a fan to sing on “I’m Scum.” Guitarists Lee Kiernan and Mark Bowen alternated crowd-surfing with crowd work. Kiernan brought his camcorder into the pit, and Bowen got in to scream-sing Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Maps.” Talbot joined him on Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” a now tongue-in-cheek Idles special. The band transfixed on the crooning new single “The Beachland Ballroom” and finally closed the night by bringing on Gustaf, the five-piece art-punk opener from Brooklyn, for a rendition of “Rottweiler” that can only be described as apeshit.
It’s true that Idles can be tell versus show in their messaging, often singing about class politics, sex, immigration and bigotry. But the set on Friday proves that their blunt indignation can just as easily become good-natured buffoonery. Besides, one would do well to remember that preaching in punk is not new, and that Idles have found their eager flock. —Rachel Brody | @Rachelcbrody
Photos courtesy of Joe Papeo | www.irocktheshot.com
