Last weekend, London’s famous OVO Arena at Wembley witnessed the return of Southend-born rock phenomenon Nothing But Thieves for two sold-out nights of musical extravaganza. The crowd, numbering 12,500 each time, eagerly embraced the cordial invitation to join the group at Dead Club City as the cold November air lingered outside and a warm atmosphere took over the arena, setting the stage for two unforgettable shows.
Kicking off the Saturday spectacle were the two support acts King Nun and Kid Kapichi, whose stellar performances added to the magic of the evening. Following this, the innovative Dead Club Radio further prepared the audience – a radio station created by guitarist and producer Dom Craik (and Co.) and set within the DCC, all complete with an announcement of an anticipated appearance by The Zeros and a joke about the band’s all-time favourite hit ‘Neon Brother’ (they hate it and have vowed to never perform it live ever again).
The anticipation then reached a fever pitch as Dead Club Radio came to an end with the bouncy tunes of ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’ by ABBA, the venue was bathed in muted red lights, and the quintet burst onto the stage. The flagship track and record opener of the group’s latest album ‘Dead Club City’, ‘Welcome to The DCC’, became the bombastic scene setter of the eclectic setlist – and the initial step into the futuristic world of the DCC.
Going from there, the night’s tracklist featured a string of hits spanning all across Nothing But Thieves’ four-album-strong discography, from marvels from their most recent releases to nostalgic glimpses of their earlier works. Impressive as always, the alt-rock group flawlessly recreated the intricate soundscapes of their studio endeavours in a live setting, with each member getting his moment to shine. While charismatic front-man and lead singer Conor Mason twirled around the stage and almost conducted the excited audience with his otherworldly vocal talents, guitarists Craik and Joe Langridge-Brown delivered one particular standout highlight of the night during a gritty jam together with drummer James Price and bassist Phil Blake. The vocals (and singer Mason) might have been missing in those few minutes of instrumental magnitude, but the crowd still went wild as the fans got treated to rare hits like ‘Number 13’, ‘Gods’ and the never-been-performed-live track ‘Ce n’est Rien’. There are moments that are loud and bulging, with anthems like ‘Tomorrow Is Closed’, ‘Trip Switch’ and ‘Unperson’ not only bringing the energy in the arena to an absolute high but also showcasing the musical expertise Nothing But Thieves have garnered over the past couple of years. And there are also the quieter, more emotional turns, featuring the ever-so-brilliant ‘Green Eyes :: Siena’ and the triumphant ‘Impossible’ that leave many eyes swimming in tears.
Despite the band’s acquired fame – because you don’t sell out Wembley Arena twice out of nowhere –, the five friends appear as grounded and grateful as ever, with singer Mason frequently thanking the fans for getting them where they are now, bowing to their chants and applauding their singing, none of it ever seeming like it is merely out of the need of concert etiquette. And even a few jokes here and there find their way into the set, with Mason, who later called himself a “front-nan, not a front-man”, greeting a couple of younger members of his family in the crowd and exclaiming: “My mum told me not to swear, but, kids, I will have you know, your parents lie to you. They swear all the fucking time because it’s fun. It’s fun to swear, isn’t that right, everybody? After three, let’s all say fuck. One. Two. Three. FUCK!”. Ever heard a room of more than 12,500 voices shout fuck in unison? It surely is a sight (and sound) to behold – and, frankly, quite hilarious.
After a jam-packed set of eighteen songs and the absolute belter that is ‘Pop The Balloon’, the London-based quintet briefly left the stage, only to return for an encore that culminated in the explosive performance of their uber-hit ‘Amsterdam’ and the concert’s finale track ‘Overcome’. And while the stellar visuals, with five massive screen pillars placed on the left side of the stage, added yet another layer to the grandeur of the show, it was the crowd’s deafening reception that underlined the undeniable fact that Nothing But Thieves had conquered Wembley Arena – not just once, but twice. From what we’ve learned, the Dead Club City might not be the dream place sold to us, but if it is anything like last Saturday, we’d very much like that member card.
Written by Laura Weingrill // photography by Harris Tomlinson-Spence
GEM Magazine 