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.NOTHING BUT THIEVES
+ The M0ving Stills
@ Enmore Theatre, Sydney
2nd May, 2023
(Live Review)Review by Amelia Torresan
Photos – Len Panecki
Even before I reached the Enmore Theatre, I could see and feel the hype and excitement around the Nothing But Thieves show that was due to start soon as fans lined up, snaking around the building, up and around the street in anticipation to get inside.The suspense from the crowd slowed down passers-by who were curious as to who would draw such a large number of fans to their show, and on a Tuesday night no less! As soon as the doors opened it was a scramble to complete a mental checklist that was created by the crowd, Merch? Check. Drink? Check. Barrier? Now!
‘It’s nice
To have something in your life
That keeps you interested
And it keeps you doing better”
Opening up the night and setting up the atmosphere were ‘The Moving Stills,’ a band from the Central Coast with glorious locks and unique vocal techniques whose ‘chill surfer’ musical sound loosened up the crowd. The band started strong with their song ‘U and Me’ and gave the crowd a sampling of their sound with songs such as ‘Waste My Time,’ ‘Gene,’ ‘Nineteen’ and ‘Better.’ The members of The Moving Stills had a captivating stage presence that had you dancing along in no time to their lighthearted vocals, funky rhythms and incredible use of tambourine. I could definitely see their music as a soundtrack to a 90’s coming of age surf movie alongside bands like Grinspoon, Silverchair, and the odd song by The Police.
It was then time for the band of the night, Nothing But Thieves, to take centre stage and invite the crowd into their musical world, starting off strong with ‘Futureproof.’ It was truly the perfect song to start the night with, boasting high octane, high pitch vocals and a haunting yet powerful instrumental accompaniment. The energy didn’t stop as the band then went straight into my favourite song ‘Is Everyone Going Crazy?’ which was chaos in the best way, with the crowd dancing along and singing the chorus alongside lead singer Conor Mason. ‘I Was Just A Kid’ teased the crowd with its build-ups and breakdowns like a rollercoaster of musical intensity, but there was no doubt the fans were enjoying the ride. Conor Mason’s vocal talents were undeniable during ‘Real Love Song’, flaunting vocal trills and vibrato that could rival Christina Aguilera, and sung with such passion that it gives you goosebumps.
‘Soda’ was next in the lineup which had everyone in their feelings, swaying along to lyrics that addressed darker but relatable themes, the acoustic vocals on the choruses towards the end of the song really complemented and drove home the lyrics and their message. ‘Trip Switch’ and ‘Life’s Coming in Slow’ brought the energy back to the room. Their sound reminded me a lot of the music from The Killers early music with understated verses contrasted by powerful choruses full of energy and impactful vocals. ‘Life’s Coming in Slow’ earned loud cheers from the crowd and enthusiastic participation when clapping to the beat during the bridge and I was all too willing to join alongside them.
A short band interlude with mellow chord guitar strums of haunting chords crescendoed into a heavy, gothic rock sound that led into the next song: ‘Forever and Ever More’ which had a very ‘No One Knows’ by Queens of the Stone Age kind of sound. These funky rhythms continued into their next song ‘Miracle, Baby’ accompanied by a vocal melody that would fit seamlessly into the discography of the iconic 80’s musician Prince.
“You need a miracle, baby
But I wouldn’t wait too long”
As soon as the first few notes of Nothing But Thieves’ next song played it sent the crowd into a frenzy, screaming and whooping the loudest they did the entire night. It was very clear to see that ‘Particles’ from the band’s second studio album ‘Broken Machine’ was a definite fan favourite and for good reason. The dynamics of the song are perfectly balanced with the contrast of the soft verses and the intense choruses with vocals full of passion and emotion equally matched by the vocals of the dedicated fanbase at their feet. Hyped up after the song, the band called a few fans onstage to partake in the Aussie tradition of a ‘shoey’ on their behalf.
This is when they decided to give Sydney a sneak peak of their new album coming soon, playing their new song ‘City Haunts’ which shows off Conor’s impressive falsetto, particularly in the chorus in a style that can be compared to The Darkness and Prince. On the theme of haunting, the next songs in the setlist ‘Unperson’ and ‘Phobia’ both featured haunting melodies paired with heavy, metal sounding guitars and thundering drums that would be right at home on the soundtrack to a spooky movie.
As the night came to a close, Nothing But Thieves brought out some of their heaviest hitters in the form of ‘Sorry’ (my other personal favourite) and ‘Amsterdam,’ the latter bringing the energy in the room up past even the level of ‘Particles.’ The crowd was dancing and singing along like no one was watching, putting every ounce of themselves into this song that they loved so much alongside the sea of people around them. Their singing was almost as loud as Conor’s amplified voice and their energy seemed to be infectious, spreading to the band themselves who turned up their own energy even more to match their fans and make the night one to remember.
After a quick game of peekaboo (a fake exit from the stage then returning to do an encore), the band proceeded to play their latest release, a retro-sounding synth-pop track, ‘Welcome to the DCC.’ I felt like I was transported to a club somewhere in Europe with the bouncy rhythms, prominent synth use and falsetto vocals that just made you want to dance along with your eyes closed and hands in the air to fully feel the music. ‘Impossible’ officially closed the night, the delicate vocals and semi-acoustic instrumental in the first verse transformed into a familiar intensity in the second verse and chorus as the full band entered the song. ‘Impossible’ experiments with contrasts beautifully – light and heavy, delicate and strong, but there is no denying the passion sung behind the lyrics by not only the singer but the entire crowd whose vocals echoed alongside the lead singers.
Nothing But Thieves? More like nothing but good vibes because the entire night was incredible. The vocals reach Freddie Mercury & Prince-like heights, their music is captivating and the band aren’t afraid to try out different genres and sounds which only works to their advantage. If you have the chance to see Nothing But Thieves live in concert, make sure to put on your dancing shoes because this band definitely puts on a show!
Check out Len Panecki’s full gallery of the Melbourne event at the Forum HERE
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Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram
Press Release 29th March 2023 (below) HERE
NOTHING BUT THIEVES
return to Australia
with brand new music
and headline tour
.AMNPLIFY – DB
