IDLES & Beak, Live at The Marble Factory, Bristol
The Give A Sh*t Xmas initiative is only in its second year but it’s already able to attract a heavyweight headliner; after a storming 2019, IDLES topped an emotional night.
Of course, the fact that the movement is fully aligned with IDLES’ core message – unity – helps massively. All proceeds, including profits from ticket sales and the raffle on the night (which included a main prize of Joe Talbot’s car), are distributed towards those who need it most, via a series of Bristol-based and focused homeless charities. This, combined with the political atmosphere (unavoidable in Bristol generally, but inescapable on election night), made for an evening on which to feel righteous.
But not too much. The wonderfully-named Billy Nomates and her DIY aesthetic set the scene; the music, her moves and her hair are all ever so slightly off-kilter, but that’s what makes it work. To be different is to be unique. Then, after a short interval, fellow local heroes Beak give us what can only be described as psychedelic light-entertainment.
Geoff Barrow’s mob (heavily involved in Give A Sh*t Xmas) are all electronic swoon and subtle, pulsing soundscapes, the woozy ‘Life Goes On’ being a highlight. But between tracks their onstage patter is equally as entertaining. It’s a unique night so they have free reign to be even more self-deprecating than normal, reading out negative comments underneath an online video of theirs and facilitating the raffle complete with Martin from Homes Under The Hammer. Hilarious and heart-warming stuff.
IDLES were due to take to the stage at 10pm, so there was anticipation that it would be timed beautifully with the UK General Election’s exit poll and the crowd could lose themselves in either a fit of pique or anger. Alas, they took to the stage early and were in full swing by the time the news many dreaded had filtered through, with no acknowledgement by Joe and the gang.
Not that it mattered. They are riding the crest of a wave at the moment and nothing can pull them off course, especially not when there’s a packed local crowd more than willing to be swept up with it all. They’ve spent much of the autumn recording their third album, and although we only get a brief glimpse tonight, it augurs well. Opening track and newbie ‘War’ suggests that album three is going to follow closely to the manifesto set by last year’s Joy As An Act Of Resistance, a tub-thumping clarion call of a song, watertight rock at its finest which sets the tempo before the slicing guitar of ‘Never Fight A Man With A Perm’ cuts through the wet night.
Having just undergone a short December tour, the band are performing at the optimum; Jon Beavis drums like a beast, Adam is everything a bassist should be, Lee is comparatively understated and the man who has won hearts over the year (Mark Bowen) can surely be allowed the luxury of clothes just this once. It is December after all.
It’s a relatively short set but no-one can feel aggrieved; such is IDLES’ quality now that any grievances can be centred around what they leave out. ‘Mother’ is frantic, ‘1049 Gotho’ is an assault on the eardrums and the message of ‘Danny Nedelko’ immediately becomes even more pertinent than it was a few hours previously.
But that’s a concern for tomorrow, tonight is first and foremost about the worthy cause, and the blistering music.