All the heaven, all the time: Nothing But Thieves transforms Los Angeles into Dead Club City
OCTOBER 9TH 2023 | by EMMA SCHOORS
Photos by Emma Schoors
Nothing But Thieves touched down on Oct. 7 for their first visit to the city of angels in five years, playing to a sold-out Wiltern in support of their dystopian concept LP Dead Club City.
COVID-19 forced the band to cancel their scheduled appearance at the venue for their Moral Panic tour in 2020, but the time in between only strengthened their desirability among American fans. A healthy line poured from the entrance and wrapped around to the parking lot, spilling steadily into the emerald green venue Saturday night.
Inside, anticipation dripped from the ornate architecture like syrup. Hastings-based Kid Kapichi kickstarted the night with a feverish opening set, and shared a producer in Nothing But Thieves guitarist Dom Craik for their sophomore record. By the time the Essex-based band’s set time rolled around, fans were singing along to Dead Club Radio, a curated playlist with themed ads in-between. Phil Collins’ “Sussudio” met ABBA’s “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”, broken up by the distorted clues of impending apocalypse.
Five years of patience paid off when the glammy roar of Joe Langridge-Brown’s Les Paul rang through the walls. Shiny synths held the reins for opener “Welcome to the DCC,” and lead vocalist Conor Mason flaunted a monochrome black look as he danced through several new tracks, including “Tomorrow Is Closed” and “City Haunts.” The set was a constellation of moods spanning the band’s entire career, from the frenetic “I Was Just A Kid” to the choral lovesickness of “Impossible.” Craik shone with the heady riffs of “Pop The Balloon,” while drummer James Price’s steady presence made “Trip Switch” a highlight of the night.
As the early October evening bled into its tenth hour, Langridge-Brown tore through his signature “Overcome” solo, hair wild and golden, smile peeking through for an occasional scan of the audience. It’s worth noting his knack for molding the inarticulable into tattooable lines – he nails sacreligious devoutness in “Afterlife,” self-destruction in “You Know Me Too Well,” political turmoil in “Gods.” His Mary Poppins bag of a brain paired with the delicacy of Mason’s voice lifts them into a plane of songwriting seldom seen in recent years, and lands him as my personal favorite lyricist of all time.
Half a decade since their last rendezvous with Los Angeles, Nothing But Thieves performed a pristine show chock-full of memorable moments and tireless rock deliverance. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but I’m already eagerly awaiting their return.
Check out Nothing But Thieves’ new album, Dead Club City, below.