Music
03 Sep 23

Live Report- Idles at Electric Picnic 2023

The English post-punk five-piece provided one of the most exhilarating sets in Stradbally this weekend.

Revered Bristol punk outfit Idles stormed the Electric Arena at this year's Electric Picnic with a fierce riot of sound and spirit.

Even in the vast expanse of the arena, there was a tangible pre-gig electricity as the tent began to fill with hardcore punks and curious passers by.

Opening with the hard-hitting 'Colossus', Adam Devonshire's ice-pick bass plucks melded seamlessly with Jon Beavis's thunderous drums, crafting a sonic tension that culminated in the nastiest of breakdowns. It was clear early on that this hour or so of noise would be urgent, raw and powerful.

Idles’ music is paradoxical – it's angry yet loving, ferocious yet inclusive. The heartfelt dedication to immigrants on 'Danny Nedelko' is proof enough.

What makes them exceptional isn't just the passion they pour into their lyrics – it's the undeniable energy of their live performances. 'I’m Scum' was a showstopper. Bringing the crowd to their haunches, frontman Joe Tabolt had his audience eating out of his hand and instigating a unified chant of "fuck the king".

There's intelligence and sharpness beneath their furious exterior. Their track 'Never Fight a Man with a Perm' is a masterfully witty take on toxic masculinity that could easily be mistaken for a Martin Amis passage.

One couldn't help but be mesmerised by the frenetic energy of guitarists Mark Bowen and Lee Kiernan. The duo took turns diving into the crowd, riding waves of hands as they shredded on, despite being upside down at some points.

Talbot was no slouch either, stomping around the stage, swinging the mic and knocking over equipment- he also treated us to some allegro booty shaking-underlining the band's knack for sprinkling in the right amount of fun in between.

While their on-stage antics might scream unplanned punk rebellion, make no mistake – behind all the chaos is a tight, highly professional outfit.

In an era where live shows can often feel manufactured, Idles are a reminder of what genuine, raw, unfiltered passion looks like.