Anyone in Cardiff last Friday could be forgiven for thinking the city centre was being invaded by a menacing horde of 6 Music dads; in fact, it was an occurrence no more worrisome than postpunk titans Idles headlining the Castle.
It starts with Jon Beavis, the Bristol group’s drummer, alone on stage over the sound of an apparently endless guitar screech: this begins IDEA 01, with the rest of the band slowly joining him. However, it’s not until Colossus, which follows, that things get going. Its slow creep turns into righteous fury, with Joe Talbot addressing us with a “Bore da!” over the buildup. “Split the crowd in half,” Idles’ Newport-born vocalist continues, “we’ve been at soft festivals for too long. Split it all the way back to the tower! I want you fucking charging!” At which point – BOOM – the song drops, the crowd clashes in the middle, pints fly through the air and riotous energy fills the Castle.
![Idles - credit Anthony Conway](https://assets.buzzmag.co.uk/uploads/2024/07/Idles-31-1024x706.jpg)
Continuing that energy with a double whammy of Gift Horse and Mr Motivator, tonight Idles are on tip-top form. Before Mother, Talbot makes sure the crowd knows his origins – “I know I don’t sound like it, but this is my home!” – and, before I’m Scum roars into life, “People are judgmental cunts aren’t they? I was liberated by the death of the most wonderful person who taught me to dance in the face of hate. [This song] is a celebration of all the insults that have been thrown in my face.” Reprising their recent, notorious Glastonbury gambit, there’s an added chant of “fuck the King” to boot.
![Idles - credit Anthony Conway](https://assets.buzzmag.co.uk/uploads/2024/07/Idles-3-831x1024.jpg)
The likes of War, Divide & Conquer and Television are gratefully received, but it’s when the band pull out Never Fight A Man With A Perm that the energy in the Castle truly peaks. Following this is the pro-immigration, anti-hatred anthem Danny Nedelko – dedicated to the people of Palestine this evening – before a rippling Rottweiler closes the show. Tonight’s show is one of fury, love, empathy and more – we’re not sure the Castle will ever be the same again.
Idles, Cardiff Castle, Fri 12 July
words JOSHUA WILLIAMS photos ANTHONY CONWAY