Yes. I consider myself a fan of “punk rock.” But I will admit I’ve spent very little time with this decade’s reigning punk rock kings. It’s not to say that I’ve completely avoided them- I definitely adore their aesthetic and agree with their stance of what is essentially “aggressive positivity in the face of oppression.” It’s a group of five white guys with guitars that seem to be fully aware of their privilege and what to do with it. I like that. It’s just, well, there is so much quality music out there being created that I will often simply disregard anything by “five white guys” as something that I don’t need.
That being said, IDLES live proved that I’ve been missing something magnificent this entire time. Opening their set with the intensely atmospheric “IDEA 01,” I still wasn’t sure what to expect. This really wasn’t “punk,” as I have known it in the past. It was clearly something “new,” and I am here for it.
The band spent the next literal two hours going in and out of shadows onstage, with guitarist Lee Kiernan periodically flinging himself off stage. Singer Joe Talbot danced like the drunkest uncle at the wedding while dryly uttering the most profound lyrics I’ve heard in a long time. Despite being on tour to promote this year’s TANGK, they pulled equitably from their entire catalog, all while speaking about positivity and pushing for a Free Palestine (including donning a “Free Palestine!” hat thrown from the crowd, which Talbot said something along the lines of “this message is worth getting lice for”) Not long after this comment, we ended up with an a capella rendition of Mariah Carey’s classic “All I Want For Christmas (Is You),” always unexpected, but much less expected in May.
Anyway, that was a lovely, sweaty good time. I even tripped over Lars Ulrich, of all people, who was dancing and singing along and enjoying himself a great deal without any attention being brought to his presence. It was a lovely time, and I expect this band to share a lovely time with folks for many years.
The Mahabharata
