Photo Credit: Caitlyn Ebsworthy
A band that have been on top of their A game ever since their second studio album Broken Machine back in 2017, are indie-rock favourites Nothing But Thieves who are on a bit of a roll. Following up their success seen on Broken Machine, third LP Moral Panic put the Essex outfit firmly on the map in music, securing a third spot on UK charts, soaring to main stage status at nationwide festivals and even featuring as guest spots with esteemed artists all in the space of a year. To top it all off, the band just performed one of their biggest headlining shows to date, taking to The O2 Arena to bring their equally arena-filling anthems from Trip Switch to Sorry and many more in the back catalogue of best-selling albums and hit singles Nothing But Thieves have amassed.
On as support acts for Nothing But Thieves, Airways and YONAKA, a duo of superb support bookings get proceedings under way for a headliner of epic proportions for Nothing But Thieves.
Opening with newer number Futureproof the opening gritty and downright dingy guitar riffs gain a colossal crowd reaction. Vocalist Conor Mason and co bound onto stage, Mason dressed in colourful tracksuit attire, quite the contrast to his Tetley Tea inspired knit vest that preceded at Reading Festival two months prior.
Sitting alongside live performances of current material came the classic NBT tracks Is Everybody Going Crazy?, Graveyard Whistling and an acoustic rendition of Particles, a song that couldn’t help but captivate the emotionally grateful mood exuded by the entirety of Nothing But Thieves. A monumental occasion for a bunch of Essex lads hitting the big time at London’s music capital.
Closing out their headlining night with Impossible, it’s taken Nothing But Thieves nearly a decade to crack the indie-rock code, but on nights like these at The O2 Arena, it was well worth the wait and they’ve proved nothing is impossible.
8.5/10
Written by: Katie Conway-Flood
Photo Credit: Caitlyn Ebsworthy
