Idles - Live At The Louisiana - 23rd August 2021

Now then, where were we?

Although IDLES weren’t cut off mid-flow when the pandemic hit (coming as it did between album cycles for them), they do have some lost time to make up as third album Ultra Mono nears its first anniversary.

Fittingly, their first ‘proper’ gig (i.e. one with a crowd) since December 2019 is a homecoming show at tiny, 140-capacity Louisiana, and also a tantalising teaser for their next big Bristol show at The Downs early next month.

Their first at the venue since 2015 (as local legend Big Jeff informs your correspondent afterwards), the atmosphere is surprisingly calm before the gig, almost as if no-one can quite believe it will happen.

As the band take to the stage (the only way they can, walking directly through the crowd) and open with the metallic, slicing grind of ‘War’, what feels briefly like a collective sigh of relief transforms into an immediate channelling of the righteousness that is the band’s modus operandi. We’re immediately transported back to a place of reassuring comfort.

https://www.live4ever.uk.com/2021/08/review-idles-bristol-louisiana/