From Malahide to Glastonbury and now to a headline slot on the closing day of a festival, what a trip it has been for Idles. Tangk may not be regarded as their peak – Joy as an Act of Resistance is fair and firm competition – but it has provided a launch pad away from their previous sound. Joe “Party Boy” Talbot and company have found love in their hearts and a smile on their face for those trying to bring positivity to a close. Talbot is faced with mixing errors, a switched-off microphone and a surprise in the setlist which never gets played, but the troubles here show Idles is not a facade of friendship but a sincere act as a well-meaning band with hearts bigger than the hurt they fight against.
A new national anthem for England is pitched by Idles and it should be adopted, fast. It is needed in these times of trouble. PJ Harvey and English Teacher did well to highlight the horrors back home, either inadvertently or obviously. Whatever the case there is a rage bubbling under the surface, against those who are using tragedy as an excuse to act out against what they fear. Idles touches on this with their brute force brilliance and a set of moving, well-planted songs come with it. No better is it than I’m Scum, where this new national anthem is planted. Mr Motivator sounds well-placed too, a nice jump which runs through a similar style as their Glastonbury set. The momentum is all there for the taking and the band is changing little. What changes do come through cannot be performed. A change to the setlist blindsides Talbot and decides to skip over it.
Understandably so, it is not worth half-trying it without knowing the words. It was months ago and repetition of the Idles variety is not easy. Microphone-wielding maniac Talbot is in as fine a form as he was at Malahide even with the occasional tech hiccup. His microphone is cut for the first song, the mix is all over for his earpiece yet ever the professional he rallies on, gives tribute to Yard Act who had just wrapped a show on the stage across the way, and pushes on through. He is the mantra of Idles through and through, and what good we expect of them makes its way onto the stage once more. Dancer remains a euphoric bit of fun and without LCD Soundsystem backing them for their live appearances, takes on a monotone vocal touch.
These are the changes of pace expected of a live act running through tracks old and new. Tangk material is skipped over for the more recognisable fruits of Joy as an Act of Resistance and Crawler, but IDEA 01 and Gift Horse still ring through. They are necessary additions, the Tangk work is strong and intense. Their older songs hold plenty of merit and offer no signs of a band cruising through the set. Hall & Oates does not make the cut. Danny Nedelko and Rottweiler do, and rightly so. A grand send-off for a festival stacked with big names, better performances and bright spectacles. A Yard Act and Idles pairing to ring out the festival, and the two-day trip home feels like a just trade for such entertainment.
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