Therapy?, Manchester Academy. 14th November 2024

I felt like I spent the back end of last year chasing Therapy? around the country. It feels quite calm seeing them tonight on home soil. Last time I saw them was at Sheffield’s rather great Network, a pressure cooker sort of venue. Let’s face it, Manchester Academy can’t boast that, it’s much bigger, but this presents a different opportunity for our Irish alt hero’s. Namely to stretch out and fill this space with some deafening noise. We’re here to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Troublegum, a record that gives ample opportunity to bring that noise. It’s not rolled out in order though. I think bands have wised up that an albums running order often doesn’t make a great set. Therapy? aren’t daft. Yes the songs may sound like deadly riff monsters, but dig into some of the lyrics and you’ll find Cairns to be a witty and poetic lyricist. That said “The world is fucked and so am I” from ‘Stop It You’re Killing Me’ might not sound that poetic as they open, but it does provide an instant rush. Their cover of ‘Isolation’ is one of the best covers of all time and Cairns looks wired singing it, as he stares dead eyed into the hearts of the people stood all the way at the back of the room. Seriously his eyes are piercing, why are they that white! Both Cairns and McKeegan are great up front, full of energy pulling the room together, but fuck me Neil Cooper is fucking incredible behind the kit. ‘Totally Random Man’ is all riff, but it’s those drums that pin everything down. That’s what you’re banging your head to, he’s phenomenal. “Manchester are you ready to make some fucking noise?” That will be yes as they rip into ‘Turn’. It’s a dark but bouncy bugger with a chorus that everyone can get behind and wilfully do. ‘Auto Surgery’ is a slightly deeper cut and the crowd calms down. This doesn’t matter one bit, some bands you want the room to be up all the way through, but I’ve no problem watching this lot smash through this while a few folks sneak to the bar. Granted the crowd aren’t as intense as it was for Amyl and The Sniffers in here last week, but it’s a slightly older audience. That doesn’t stop two at first unasumimg looking older ladies going absolutely crazy to ‘Trigger Inside’. I’ve not seen that much grey hair fly around in, well ever I think. The crowd surfing starts too as we’re encourage to sing “I’m in hell and I’m alone” to ‘Brainsaw’. When I said poetic, I didn’t necessarily mean happy poetic. I think what I like most about Therapy? is the space in there sound, they seem to be able to pack the riffs and catchy choruses into songs, but still take you on spawlimg alt rock rides like ‘Unrequited’. There’s a simplicity to it, that still sounds wonderfully complex and bloody heavy. ‘Unbeliever’ is slow sludgy and menacingly soulful. I say slow, Cooper seems to be able to drum at three different speeds all at once. The backbone, and a couple of others to bounce with both the bass and the guitar. They’re ripping through the set at a ferocious pace. ‘Femtex’ is one of my favourites. Is there anything better than a whole room shouting “Masturbation saved my life”. They’re tight and tort, as ‘Hellbelly’ is dedicated to anyone Irish in the room. It gets one of the biggest singalongs so far with “Jesus without the suffering”. I think I’d forgotten just how great an album Troublegum is. ‘Opal Mantra’ is next, which it feels like I’ve not heard in a while, probably because I tend to only hear it live. It gets forgotten I guess as a none album track. They’re quick to shout out their influences, with a roll call of impressive bands, all notably U.K. based, no American fluff here, although Steve Albini does get a shout before ‘Die Laughing’. It’s like four of five songs in one, twisting in and out of verses and choruses as the room locks in. “This is fucking amazing” says Andy, he’s not wrong. The shouts of “Christ” on ‘Lunacy Booth’ could pierce eardrums. Lesley Rankine would be proud. I wonder what she’s doing now? Ruby were a great band. The nice older ladies lose their shit to ‘Nowhere’ that’s teased in with a Beatles intro, before getting delivered at a terrifying pace. Then they’re off. How on earth an hour has passed I’ve no idea. It’s a stunning set and there’s more to come. If the first hour was great, Jesus what follows is stunning ‘Nausea’s call of “Here I am Motherfuckers” is like a clarion and the place goes off. I know we’re here for Troublegum, but Nurse really is one of the most underrated British rock albums ever. In fact that and those early EPs are probably my favourite era. ‘Meat Abstract’ gives way to ‘Accelerator’, which does what it says in the tin and sets up the “wee Irish folk song” ‘Potato Junkie’. Where Neil gets to “drum like a motherfucker” for his customary solo. It gets even more batshit every time I see him do this, there’s even a bizarre electro element to it tonight, but today is his birthday so let him have his fun I say. Andy and Micheal come back in, but only after a bit of an ‘Iron Man’ interlude, again they always do this, but hey if it ain’t broke. ‘Teethgrinder’ follows, completing the step back in time before they cut back to Troublegum with ‘Knives’. ‘Screamager’ then closes the set and sees the room erupt. It’s utterly joyous in a way that maybe you wouldn’t guess with a band like them. Therapy? really should get more respect than they do. Instead of rushing to the exits, people turn to one another and gush with strangers about how much fun that was and it really was. I’m tempted to chase them around the country again, but the tour is sold out and rightly so. If you’ve got a ticket, you’re in for a treat.