NOTHING BUT THIEVES | LIVE REVIEW
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Sun 1 Nov
It seems that Nothing But Thieves have had success after success of late. Soon after being signed by RCA in 2014 they released their first single in September last year and they were quickly recognised as the hottest new thing.
An impressive 2015 saw them support Arcade Fire, George Ezra and Young Guns. After a festival filled summer they rounded off the season nicely by supporting the band they are probably most often compared to: Muse, in front of 30,000 people in Roma. Not bad for a bunch of school mates from Southend.
Having seen them live back in May, supporting Young Guns, I anticipated something special. Frontman Conor Mason’s vocals are as haunting live as they are on the album. However, chatting with Conor pre-gig he informed me he was quite unwell, and armed with Sudafed and Lemsip as a result.
The crowd was warmed up by Exeter pop rockers Witterquick and Valleys boys Pretty Vicious. Witterquick were fun and entertaining; PV are talented young guys but could work on their performance value a bit, unless the moody teenager persona is what they’re going for. Taking – and leaving – the stage without once interacting with their audience, it feels a bit early in their career to have such an attitude.
After some technical hitches NBT took to the stage, the crowd instantly joining in helping Conor out with his vocals. Such a big difference from their Young Guns support slot, in a half empty venue where it was obvious very few recognised who they were. You could tell from some pained expressions that Conor felt he wasn’t quite up to standard, but if he hadn’t mentioned anything I honestly don’t think you would have noticed. He possesses this raw gritty growl that can effortlessly change to an angelic falsetto.
The sound NBT have crafted since forming in 2012 is perfected to well beyond their years. Watching them live, you get the feeling that something very big in the making is happening before your eyes; their sound is too massive to be confined to a venue of this size. Equally, part of you doesn’t want them to get bigger, a special secret to keep to yourself.
The five-piece brought down the lights and mellowed the heavy riffs for the beautiful If I Get High and Graveyard Whistling, before building the excitement back up with hits Trip Switch and Wake Up Call. You can see the admiration on the faces of their already dedicated fanbase. It seems such a successful year hasn’t phased this band, though: they still possess an obvious humility, continuously thanking the crowd.
They finish with Ban All The Music, a title shared by this tour. No-one stays still for this – it’s their anthem and a perfect ending. Leaving, I overhear other attendees saying “if that’s what he sounds like when he’s ill imagine how great he sounds when he’s on top form,” which is spot on. There was nothing below average about this show. Insane talent for such a young band.
words DENIECE CUSACK