LIVE REVIEW & GALLERY: Therapy? @ Rock City, Nottingham

November 9th 2024

Support from Deux Furieuses

Nottingham Rock City—returning here after years away was a strange mix of nostalgia and surprise. It's still one of the best venues around, but why on earth was it so cold? Seriously, it was the coldest indoor gig I’ve ever been to. Even after dancing around, I was still freezing. By the time I finished shooting and could finally take off my camera harness and put my coat back on, I was desperate for some warmth. But thankfully, the music was enough to shake off the chill.

Deux Furieuses

The London-based duo didn’t just open the night; they detonated it. Their sound was heavy, driven by distorted guitars and raw, punishing drums that seemed almost sentient in their intensity—like they might leap offstage and tear into you. Urgent, unapologetic vocals delivered politically charged lyrics with a soulful yet powerful edge that demanded attention.

There was something hypnotic in their punk-inspired ferocity, but it wasn’t just punk; their sound had experimental edges that flirted with noise-rock and even dabbled in dark, hypnotic beats. The set was gritty, dirty, and undeniably rich in texture—DIY at its most refined. Tracks felt both chaotic and deliberate, with moments so sonically explosive that the walls seemed to shake. Deux Furieuses didn’t just play; they commanded.

Therapy?

And then, of course, came Therapy?, a band who every time I write about them, I’m reminded of the time I went to see them at Norwich Waterfront over 20 years ago. I was there to see the support band, Defenestration, and left after two songs, telling my then boyfriend, “These are shit.” It wasn’t until Sonisphere 2010 that I gave them another chance, and from then on, I fell in love with their gritty, addictive sound.

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of 'Troublegum', arguably one of the finest alt-rock albums of the '90s, this was my fifth time seeing them play the album in full—and I never tire of it. The only difference this time was that it was the first time they’d opted not to play the record in track listing order. Therapy? are a band who only seem to improve with age.

Opening with their signature pummelling, sludgy riffs, the band instantly took control, blasting 'Stop It You're Killing Me' followed by their cover of Joy Division’s 'Isolation', before heading into non “Troublegum” track 'Totally Random Man'. Therapy?’s energy was immense, their thick basslines and churning guitars anthemic, with all the tracks hitting as hard as they did decades ago. The earlier, and lesser-played tracks thrown in amidst the “Troublegum” set, such as 'Auto Surgery' and 'Opal Mantra' (which is one of my favourites and not played live enough) really added depth to the set. 'Femtext', one of my all-time favourite Therapy? songs, has the opening line “Masturbation saved my life”, which instantly grabs your attention and it’s even more impactful live.

I feel that in order to get the most out of their set, you need to know their music and be able to sing along to every line, but a random rock fan walking in off the street would still find plenty to enjoy. Although, that does contradict my opening paragraph where I mentioned walking out of my first encounter with them, so maybe they are an acquired taste, and you need to know them to love them. Now that I do, I’m definitely biased!

There’s no denying, though, that Therapy?’s sound is infectious, and the crowd’s love for them borders on cult status.

A few standout moments highlighted just how unique this band remains. Andy dedicated 'Brainsaw' to “everyone sleeping in a doorway tonight,” delivering the haunting line “I’m in hell and I’m alone” with palpable emotion. Alongside the serious moments, the band’s tongue-in-cheek humour also shone through. Finishing off the main set with 'Nowhere' set the room ablaze, as always.

After heading off and returning for an encore, they fired through older songs 'Accelerator' from the 1993 “Shortsharpshock” EP, and 'Nausea' from their first major label album, 1992’s “Nurse”, followed by “Pleasure Deaths” 'Potato Junkie', which featured full crowd participation on the now-iconic line, “James Joyce is fucking my sister”. It also came with a drum solo, giving Neil his much-deserved time in the spotlight, plus an extended futuristic noise interlude that felt indulgent but oddly captivating. They closed with 'Teethgrinder', another personal favourite.

Despite my usual ambivalence towards encores, the two they delivered tonight felt earned. Iron Man-tinged basslines rumbled through the venue, while 'Knives' kept the energy unrelenting. By the time they wrapped with the classic, fan-favourite, room-erupting 'Screamager', the East Midlands audience was euphoric, and Andy’s declaration—“We are Therapy? and we love you”—felt not only genuine but reciprocal.

Final Thoughts

Deux Furieuses were a revelation, but Therapy? are a band that time refuses to tame. They’ve evolved without losing the chaotic spirit that made them so beloved. Tonight’s show reminded me why I fell in love with them in the first place—and why I’ll never make the mistake of walking out early on them again.