06.03.2016 Nothing But Thieves

Lanxess Arena at Cologne (Germany)

In October of the previous year, the British rock band Nothing But Thieves released their self-titled debut album, achieving respectable success in the UK charts. This likely caught the attention of Muse or their management, leading to an opportunity for them to join Muse on their Drones Tour. Tonight, they kicked off the evening energetically with several songs from that very album. The Lanxess Arena in Cologne was already quite well filled, offering a fantastic view of the 360° stage positioned in the center of the venue. The five members, led by vocalist Conor Mason, supported by Joe Langridge-Brown and Dominic Craik on guitars, Philip Blake on bass, and James Price on drums—delivered a strong live performance. Although set up in the middle of the stage, they only used the round central area, leaving the pathways through the crowd towards the outer platforms untouched. The atmosphere was lively, and the audience was engaged. As the performance went on, the arena grew fuller, and the energy increased accordingly, amplified further by a sea of raised arms and glowing phone lights.
I hadn’t known the band before and had only briefly looked them up to see who would be performing as the opening act. However, after their set, I must say I was thoroughly impressed. Despite their relatively short history, at no point did it feel like we were watching newcomers. Their command of the crowd was confident, their sound mature, and their songs well-crafted. I would definitely recommend seeing them live if they ever perform nearby and if you enjoy a mix of pop-infused rock sounds.