Despite easily selling out bigger venues across the country, IDLES are currently promoting their new album Joy As An Act Of Resistance via a crammed schedule of record shop in-store performances. In a bid to let more fans come along, their set for Southsea’s Pie & Vinyl was held a few streets away at The Wave Maiden, a great local pub and live room which is quite possibly never so packed on a Monday lunchtime.

Announcing the event as a ‘request show’, vocalist Joe Talbot dipped in and out of the crowd allowing people to choose what they wanted to hear next with impromptu guest vocals at times handed over to the audience. It’s testament to their fan base that the vast majority of songs requested were from the newly released album rather than their much loved debut Brutalism and were all sung along to word for word.

It’s incredible to see how much support  IDLES have built over the last couple of years and encouraging that much of that support is based on people wanting to hear their graphically blunt and politically charged statements on issues like mental health and immigration. It transpired to be a Monday afternoon like no other that the 60 or so fans lucky enough to be there will no doubt be talking about for a long time.

If you’re in the area check out Pie & Vinyl for an excellent selection of records and the best pies around. Wherever you are, check out why so many people are finding IDLES so important right now; nothing happens for no reason.

Review and Photography by Siobhan O’Driscoll – 16beasleystphotography.com
idlesband.com