IDLES at Roadrunner: An Act of Resistance
All images courtesy of Alison Madsen.
“Are you ready to cry?
Are you ready to
look after one another?”
And with that, the wall of death opened: a rapturous welcoming gesture for British punk band IDLES from an ever-so-eager crowd at Roadrunner in Brighton. Never had I been so eager to thrash around in a sea of strangers. This madness was just the beginning of what IDLES had in store to kick off the final night of their North American tour.
The Bristol, England natives have become something of a post-punk legend, known largely for their anger-fueled vocals (courtesy of frontman Joe Talbot), politically-charged lyricism, and dynamic instrumentation from guitarists Mark Bowen and Lee Kiernan, bassist Adam Devonshire, and drummer Jon Beavis. Aided by the instant praise for Brutalism, their 2017 debut album, and the similarly successful releases of Joy as an Act of Resistance (2018) and Ultra Mono (2020), IDLES has garnered a cult-like following throughout their twelve years as a band. Upon finally seeing them live, it’s no secret as to why: after all, an IDLES show is a lesson in community and love—soundtracked by some bangers, of course.
Touring in support of their fourth album, 2021’s CRAWLER, the setlist was a mix of familiar and newer anthems. From the moment the familiar tapping of the drumsticks at the start of “Colossus” began, the crowd was in an uproar, prematurely singing the memorable three-beat refrain, “Goes, and it goes, and it goes…” It was the perfect build-up for a throng of people literally bursting with anticipation as they screamed, “Forgive me father, I have sinned / I’ve drained my body full of pins / I’ve danced ’til dawn with splintered shins / Full of pins, full of pins.” As the wall of death commenced for the latter half of the song, a fast-paced rhythm compelled everyone in the room to throw themselves around with reckless abandon.
The opening notes of “Grounds” forced me to cast aside any initial plans of staying off to the side of the stage and retaining my cool, suddenly feeding off the adrenaline from those around me. I shoved my way through the masses (while apologizing profusely), getting to the center just in time as the collective wave of bodies swarmed toward the barricade. The song is a brutal rallying cry that begs the listener to recognize “strength in numbers.” Talbot stresses divergence from indoctrination and the need for unity, emphatically asserting, “Not a single thing has ever been mended / By you standin’ there and saying you’re offended / Go ahead, tell them what I’ve intended / I’ll say what I mean, do what I love, and fucking send it.”
The vitality grew stronger with every track that followed, including “Mother,” a scathing criticism of the abuse inflicted on the working class and the lack of empathy for women who have endured assault, and “Divide and Conquer” (a personal favorite of mine), with its pulsating guitars and condemnatory message against the unstable healthcare system in England—both songs serving as tributes to Talbot’s late mother.
A slightly more lighthearted transition took place for “The Beachland Ballroom,” a ballad-like track that prompted couples to slow-dance in the middle of the pit: an uncharacteristic moment of calm that was encouraged nonetheless. The band only gained momentum as they followed this with a slew of classic fan favorites, including “Never Fight A Man With a Perm,” “Crawl!”, “1040 Gotho,” and “War.”
Bowen began to play his guitar with a pair of Beavis’s drumsticks as he pranced around the stage in one of his many customary gowns—a total vibe from start to finish. Devonshire dove into the crowd for “I’m Scum”—a beloved IDLES track that elicited feverish cries from the crowd as they sang along to its tongue-in-cheek, self-deprecating lyrics—gathering fans to lower to the ground and spontaneously combust during a breakdown, sending him flying through the air. Talbot employed an infectious sense of passion throughout the show, pounding his chest, dancing along with his bandmates, and sharing moments of humility with the audience. Every song on the setlist was just as intense as the next, as though the band and the crowd were absorbing each other’s energy.
Going to an IDLES show is bearing witness to an act of radical coexistence. The band vehemently delivers their messages of revolution while holding a genuine sense of respect for one another and for their fans, which is a truly beautiful thing to witness.