Therapy? / Thirty Six Strategies

Therapy? do indeed have a fine knack of bringing with them support bands that I have never heard of before their tour but love from one listening. Last time it was La Faro. This time it's Thirty Six Strategies. The female fronted band say they are like "Husker Doo-Wop", and remind me of Tsunami bomb and Samiam. They are so very tight, with harsh female vocals, a powerhouse drummer (who looks huge against his kit but it must have been a small kit as he was only around 5'9" I would guess) and springy guys on strings. They have comedy between their songs, sad dedications to lost friends ('Worlds Of Cold Fire') and seem to have so much fun playing. The crowd were transfixed from the first song, and they deserved their huge cheer, and to sell out of their CDs. Definitely one to watch if you like your hardcore punk/punk rock and great for it to be a much rarer female fronted band in this genre.

Therapy? of course are here and always look to have fun. Their brand of metal is played with a smile on their faces, and this enthusiasm, even though it's been 25 years, rubs off onto all they come into contact with.

The Irish rockers are here tonight to promote new album 'Disquiet', which harks back to sounds from their hit 'Troublegum'. The 'Disquiet' songs (they are all played apart from two!) fit easily in with the older classics, and the crowd are well on the ball, with many already knowing the words to the album that was only released less than a month ago. You can see that the band appreciate this, and reward us with as many hits as new songs. It's an awesome mix of the bands back catalogue, from the rebel rousing 'Potato Junkie' from 1992's 'Pleasure Death' and 'Nurse' with 'Nausea' and the simple but mentally moshable 'Teethgrinder' through to disquiet. There are a few albums from the late nineties and early 2000s that are left out, but of course 'Troublegum' and 'Infernal Love' are well represented. The faster drum beat for the latters' 'Diane' makes it a better version, in my ears.

It's still the classics that raise the roof, with 'Die Laughing', 'Screamager', 'Turn', 'Stories' and 'Going Nowhere' that the fans erupt for. There's a moshpit and a few stage divers (Top tip: Don't jump into a crowd knee first!) but mostly the aging crowd are civil and as friendly as the band themselves. The addition of Skinning Pit is a nice surprise, and hosts the slowest stage diver!

Andy Cairns is joking that he can see himself in the mirrored pillars that border the pit, and thinking "Who's that fucking Ricky Gervais lookalike?!" to a unanimous chuckle. Bassist Michael McKeegan, or "The Evil Priest" as Cairns keeps calling him, is his usual bouncing self, rallying up the crowd without even saying a word. It's Neil Cooper's birthday, so we are invited to chant "Neil, Neil, drum like a motherfucker!" which of course we all do. They are also joined by cheerful Yorkshireman Steve on backing, guitar and sampler and roadie duties (for those at the recent Andy Cairns solo gig he was on stage there too).

It's hard to witness a bad Therapy? gig. I don't believe such a thing exists. They are so down to earth and as previously mentioned, show they have a talent for supporting really good though unheard of bands. After a storming set at Sonisphere last year, and this tour nearly selling out (only around twenty tickets remained tonight) Therapy? are as strong as ever.

Still Hurts
Isolation
Die Laughing
Vulgar Display Of Power
Idiot Cousin
Turn
Torment, Sorrow, Misery, Strife
Stories
Words Fail Me
Moment Of Clarity
Good News Is No News
Nausea
Tides
Insecurity
Screamager
Teethgrinder
Deathstimate
Diane
 

Knives
Skinning Pit
Potato Junkie
Going Nowhere