Much like Royal Blood, Nothing but Thieves seem to be everywhere, but no one knows where they actually came from, with Radio 1 music plays left right and center and a top 10 charting debut album. The band had even sold out most of their UK tour before their debut album hit the airwaves, a crazy feat. Bands usually only play the Electric Ballroom in Camden after at least an album (or two) so what’s so special about Nothing but Thieves?
With just one album it’s obvious that tonight’s set is going to be predominantly made up of tracks from it. Opening up with the dramatic, eerie start of ‘Excuse Me’ we can instantly hear the versatility in frontman Conor Mason’s vocals: at points it sounds like you’re listening to The Darkness, other times an alt rock band, and his falsetto is something even us ladies would be jealous of. Tracks such as ‘If I Get High’ and ‘Lover Please Stay With Me’ are mixed in with the ‘bigger’ tracks such as ‘Itch’ and ‘Trip Switch’ where we can’t quite tell if it’s Conor’s vocals or the crowds that we can hear. Despite these more well known songs, as NBT virgins we’re none the wiser, as each track is delivered with the same intensity and passion as everything else.
The crowd scream back “No one’s getting younger, would you like a souvenir? Let it take you under, feel your worries disappear” as ‘Graveyard Whistling’ comes in about half way through the main set. Nothing but Thieves have a backing choir to be jealous of as almost 1500 people put their emotion into the track. Ten tracks in, the band head off stage before reappearing for their encore, and we’re not quite sure where the time has gone. Much like the band the crowd have been fully immersed in the music and lost all sense of their surroundings. As the band play out their final three songs, closing track ‘Ban All The Music’ demands movement from the crowd as the band join in and lose themselves in the song.
With every smile the band emit out to the crowd it’s clear that they’re amazed at their success, and their humble expressions show how grateful they are to be here. Having never seen the ‘Thieves before we’re amazed how this has happened and are already itching for more. The sky’s the limit and we’re sure Brixton size venues aren’t far from the bands reach.
