Part of a celebration to mark the release of their eponymous debut nearly 20 years ago, Placebo’s UK and Ireland tour reached its final destination at London’s Eventim Apollo.
With a seven album back catalogue, many would have assumed they’d pick extensively from each to mark the start of their long standing reign, however, the setlist was largely dominated by 2013’s Loud Like Love and 2006’s Meds. While a more casual Placebo fan – if there is such a thing – might have been disappointed, the overwhelming majority ate up ever lyric spewed enthusiastically from Brian Molko’s mouth.
After an introductory track, ‘Pure Morning vs Svefn-G-Englar’, (Pure Morning being a song the band have staunchly said in the past they find boring to play) they opened with heavy, atmospheric performance of B3, followed by a thunderous ‘From What It’s Worth’. Sadly though the only song to be played from 2009’s Battle For the Sun, swiftly followed by ‘Loud Like Love’.
A tight on stage cluster, Placebo’s regular touring band now features newest addition on drums, Matt Lunn, following Steve Forrest’s departure just prior to the tour after eight years with the band. With Forrest’s trademark enthusiasm lacking, the rest of the six-piece band picked up the slack, with Molko’s energy palpable as he gesticulated happily through ‘Purify’ and ‘Too Many Friends’, while the towering form of Stefan Olsdal plucked at his bass with a beaming smile every time the applause became deafening.
The most rapturous part of the show came from when the set list was toned down, and the liquid-like opening riff of ‘Special Needs’ washed over the crowd. The seductive and heavy ‘Space Monkey’ evoked a almost a religious fevour, while ‘I Know’, though nearly 20 years old, was played with gusto and the same raw emotion in Molko’s voice that that he channelled during Loud Like Love’s gut wrenching ‘Exit Wounds’.
It is ‘The Bitter End’, ‘Special K’ and ‘Song to Say Goodbye’ that brought the show towards it thundering close, as Placebo powered through these fan favourites. The four-song encore featured their hauntingly original take on Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’, while the show closed to roaring applause with ‘Infra Red’, another Meds highlight.
Placebo are one of those bands that a lot of people still can’t believe are producing music, let alone touring, since their rebuttal of following mainstream trends put them slightly out of the loop. However, their 20-year career and energetic shows prove that hard work and sticking to your guns pays off, because they’re still selling out shows, putting on performances that could put many younger bands to shame, and commanding an army of fans devoted to them.
Review by: Becca Dark
Photos by: Kennerdeigh Scott
