Nothing but thieves: possible new face of alternative rock?
- Samantha Blovits
- Sep 15, 2018
- 4 min read
The English 5-piece rock band have made it clear that they are in the running for the title of up-and-coming rock elite. I got the chance to catch one of their shows in Detroit and was not disappointed.
Hailing from Essex, Nothing But Thieves have been touring almost non-stop since signing to RCA Records in 2014. Currently on their "Broken Machine" Tour, this was their 3rd time in Detroit in a little under a year. This time they have upgraded from the basement of the venue, The Shelter, to the main stage of St. Andrew's Hall. I arrived at the venue at 3:30pm to queue for a good spot on the rail, which I thankfully got.
The first of two opening acts was Demob Happy, another young UK band with a charismatic drummer and heavy shoe gaze guitar playing. Quintessentially a charming jam band. Next was the Canadian-American Grandson (stylized as "grandson"), who is best known for his politically/socially charged lyrics and protest videos. Grandson walked on stage ironically wearing a Donald Trump mask and immediately flipped the crowd off before roaring into his hard hitting protest song "6:00", which strikes out against police brutality. Previously, I was unaware of him as an artist, but the performance recalled hints of angst forefathers Rage Against The Machine.
"Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys hit the speakers and soon after the boys of Nothing But Thieves were on stage and ripping through their opener, "I Was Just A Kid". Dom Craik and Joe Langridge-Brown play dueling guitars, polarized in not only appearance, but also their weapon of choice (Dom sporting a rather punk look and playing a black Telecaster vs. Joe with long, golden locks and shredding a sunburst Les Paul). Phil Blake roams the stage freely, driving the band and the crowd with his booming bass lines and flashy smiles. James Price holds the entire band in place with sharp and precise drum beats, losing his shirt about two songs into the set.
Front and center in the stage is the true star-power of the group, 25 year old Conor Mason. Rather small and shy in appearance, Conor giggles and bounces around the stage in between letting out one of the most powerful voices in modern music. A voice that rivals the most mesmerizing of rock singers, past and present; this is what brings the magic to this group. Seemingly unaware of his vocal prowess, the frontman is instantly likable and increasingly more so as he modestly thanks the audience between every number.
The first 9 songs of the set were absolute rockers, launching the crowd into a head-banging, rumbling dance party. "Live Like Animals" off the band's most recent release, is an ode to youthful political confusion in today's society. Conor croons out the powerful chorus "All our kids are opening their eyes/All our kids are starting up a fire/dancing around the light," while the floor shakes equally from the bass through the speakers as it is from the majority of the pit jumping up and down along with Phil, who can be found leaping up and down during the entire performance.
The band dived into the next song on the list,"Number 13", a b-side that didn't make the official cut of the new album. Fans erupted into cheers in response to the first notes of the deep cut, shocking the band to a point of laughter when the crowd screamed the chorus louder than Conor could manage to. When I spoke with the band after the show, they said that was definitely the highlight of the show for them.)
At this point, the band slowed it down for a few ballads that allowed the sweaty crowd to catch their breath. In fact, I must have looked so out of breath that Conor actually grabbed one of his water bottles and threw it to me in the pit. Thanks, mate! I took a swig and passed it along to any other exhausted fans who needed it.
It's hard to tell what the band's true strong suite is, as they do soft ballads just as well as they do raucous rock tunes. Rock ballads such as "Particles" allow the band to showcase their powerhouse of a singer and the extreme control he has over his voice. Not only hitting jaw dropping notes, but holding them for periods of time that leave the average listener breathless.
Conor was even sick, which you could never tell until he left the stage and returned with a hot tea. "I felt like real garbage before coming on stage tonight, but I'm feeding off of your energy!" he told us, beaming as he set down his tea and surged through the rest of the set.
The gig came to a close with their hit single "Amsterdam" and the band took their final bows, hugging each other in between throwing picks and drumsticks into the sea of smiling individuals. Then the band was gone and the lights where on to reveal hundreds of sweaty, but satisfied fans.
I hung around outside afterwards to see if I had a chance to meet any of the band. I got to talk with Joe, Phil, and Dom and was happy to find that they are genuinely some of the nicest guys I have met in the business! Each one of them was beyond kind, happily signing autographs and taking pictures with fans. It was then when it became obvious to me why this band worked so well, they were truly all great pals! At the root of the most successful bands is love, love not only for the music, but for each other.
Nothing But Thieves won me over as a new fan about 5 minutes into their set and that is why everyone should give them at least a listen. They may have not hit it big here in the States yet, but Europe has already caught on to the growing potential these lads have. So if you're asking me, they very well may be the new face alternative rock, keep your eye on them.
Here's footage of Nothing But Thieves performing "Amsterdam" from the show:
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