Sweat, beer, spit, punches. It’s fair to say that Idles can host a mosh-fest. Thrown in at the deep end. Positioned mid- crowd, slightly, towards the left of the stage, the night was certainly... an experience.
From what I could see of the stage, the band looked wonderful. I say, ‘from what I could see’, because as a 5’4 woman in the middle of a mosh with men mightily over 6 ft, my view was very limited. Although, I did capture a glimpse of the guitarists beautiful, floral, summer dress.
As soon as Idles hit the stage, the Academy seemed to rumble with exhilaration and the mass release of endorphins, as Birmingham’s Idles fans could return to a mosh that they had missed so desperately. As the band launched into their opener, beer flew everywhere. Drenched in a layer of sticky Carlsberg, fans were not halted; fuelled with the pent-up energy of 2 years of no Idles’ gigs.
The raw vocals of Joe Talbot, pierced through the crowd- amidst the chaos of the mosh, and the hectic nature of the pounding drums, Joe’s lyrics- painfully honest and political- rung through and resonated. Hearing the band live only solidified their significant stance as a part of a post-punk revolution.
I must admit, the only thing that disappointed me was the lack of a ladies-only mosh, in which the band are known for encouraging. However, notably, I may have saved myself some injuries, as the female moshers seem to be extensively more brutal.
The dynamic of the crowd was, admittedly, surprising. Such a variety of fans- from 16-year-old college kids to 40-year-old, bearded men. Approaching the gig, I was slightly unaware of who to expect in the crowd. Of course, I was expecting old-school punks, but the number of Gen Z’s was quite striking. On reflection though, it does make sense. Idles are so politically relevant and frequently address societal boundaries, therefore attracting teens and 20’s that feel they possess a moral responsibility to be a part of a revolution.
A personal favourite from the set-list had to be ‘Mother’; that song just has undeniable power to it, and the live performance even more so.
If you get the chance to see these hardcore post-punk legends, be sure to take it, and be a part of the mosh...
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