It’s hard to believe Therapy? have been around for twenty five years, after all the classic “Troublegum” album has certainly stood the test off time and still sounds as good as when it was first released back in 1994, since which there have been various levels of support from both record labels and the music press but Therapy? have stayed as consistent as ever.
When “Troublegum” came out the band already had a couple of other releases under their belt and with “Disquiet” becoming their fourteenth studio album to date Therapy? have taken to the road yet again. Opening up with the first track from the new album “Still Hurts” one thing is apparent from the start – Andy Cairns and Michael McKeegan are enjoying being on stage just as much as they did back in the nighties.
With a quick introduction it was straight into one of two covers in Joy Divisions “Isolation” which Therapy? have been playing for so long they’ve made it their own. Next it was the first of five tracks to be taken from the aforementioned “Troublegum” album and “Die Laughing” had the crowd ready for a set that would go on to draw heavily from the new “Disquiet” release.
Over half the setlist tonight would be taken from these two albums, which despite being released twenty one years apart come together naturally, something fully intended by main songwriter and frontman Andy Cairns following the band recently playing the original album in full on recent outings.
There was still room though for “Stories” and “Misery” from the bands darker days “Infernal Love” album, even with Andy Cairns suffering a little from the bands mainland Europe dates he was in good voice for newer material such as the catchy “Good News is no News” and bass player McKeegan gets the crowd clapping and jumping along during the likes of the classic “Screamager”.
It was then time for Therapy?’s unofficial fourth member/roadie to trigger the samples for “Teethgrinder” and a good old fashioned mosh pit forming down the front before “Knives” and a faster than normal version of “Diane” by Huska Du (another track not easily recognisable as a cover) and the main set was brought to a close.
The obligatory off and back on again for the encore followed as “Disquiet” producer Tom Dalgety joined the band onstage to provide the heavy guitar riff on “Deathstimate” and we were then treated to not one, but two tracks from 1992’s “Pleasure Death” much to the enjoyment of the crowd – after all, tonight was all about the diehard fans rather than having to win over new followers.
Eventually it really was time to call it a night and with the final track “Nowhere” ringing out Therapy? not only have a great repertoire but provided a gig that, despite leaving several albums from their back catalogue untouched, just showed that if anything they could have played for even longer and enjoyed it just as much.
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