Therapy? - London Water Rats
Veteran rockers return for intimate London show.
The gig tonight feels like stepping back in time. It’s been nearly 15 years since Therapy? last played here. On that occasion the show was to celebrate the release of their fifth album, 'Infernal Love', and tickets were only available if you purchased the album at a special late-night event, which yours truly did. That gig was a riotous, celebratory affair and tonight’s one promises similar. Celebrating their 20th year, Therapy? have decided to release their first official live album and to do so they’ll be recording the three gigs taking place here, starting tonight.
The band are greeted by the crowd like old friends as they take to the stage and kick off in fine style with their first single 'Meat Abstract'. Therapy? have been no slouches in album releases (the live album will be lucky number 13) and this gig takes in a nice chunk of their back catalogue. 'Punishment Kiss' from first album 'Babyteeth' sits alongside 'Infernal Love' album opener ‘Epilepsy’ and 'Nurse's 'Nausea'. Newer albums get their turn too, with 'Enjoy The Struggle' and 'Exiles' from their currently fêted album 'Crooked Timber'. There’s not one song without someone singing along enthusiastically.
The band themselves are as tight and heavy as they ever were. They are clearly enjoying themselves as Andy Cairns takes time to good naturedly teases the crowd that "I thought this was a Therapy? gig, not a Girls Aloud one" when the audience dip a little, having worn themselves out.
A gentleman beside me leans over to look at the set list and grins broadly as the band return for a blistering encore of a killer trio of 'Potato Junkie', 'Screamager' and 'Nowhere' which serves to remind everyone gathered here just how immense their back catalogue is. We can only hope that Therapy? are around long enough to celebrate their 30th anniversary.
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