Live Review + Gallery | English Teacher @ Thekla, Bristol

English Teacher | Gladboy

Thekla, Bristol

10th May 2024

Photography by Eleanor Wynn (@ell0p.h)

Daisy Kennedy

Daisy is a Bristol based freelance writer, mainly producing work for theatre and screen, but especially loves to write about music and live events. Prone to a good dance and the occasional crowd surf.

English Teacher hopped aboard Bristol’s Thekla for a celebration of their new album ‘This Could Be Texas’

The Bristol Harbour was absolutely buzzing on Friday night. It could have been the rare glorious weather, the start of the weekend, or the fact that English Teacher’s ‘This Could Be Texas‘ tour was finally aboard Thekla.

The Leeds indie collective recently released their debut album ‘This Could Be Texas’ on 12th April 2024 via Island Records and are now embarking on a sold out UK tour.

It was a blessing that Thekla is well ventilated, because it was full to the brim by the time Leeds support act Gladboy graced the stage. The group had a brooding intensity about them and despite a drum kit related technical hitch, the five piece soldiered on through their new wave post-punk set.

English Teacher opened with slow track ‘Albert Road’, an intriguing opening that showcased Lily Fontaines impressive vocals. This was followed by another mellow one: ‘I’m Not Crying, You Are’. The addition of a cellist Blossom Calderone elevated the live set, adding a new texture to the already intricate track.

It feels odd to prefix this band with a blanket label of ‘indie.’ They zig-zag through genres, experimenting with pacing and intensity with an unashamed abruptness and grace. It makes sense why the entire album tour is a sell out; this music is truly made to be heard live.

The band showed their talents as multi-instrumentalists, especially on ‘Broken Biscuits‘. Notably, drummer Douglas Front often swapped from the gentle keyboard to go mental on the drum kit, not only showcasing his musical talents but making for an amusing visual spectacle.

They don’t cut corners with album title track ‘This Could Be Texas’. It builds in a hypnotic and cathartic way, taking the crowd on a journey twisting and turning through drums, guitar, synth and vocals which meander through talking and singing. Understandably, it got one of the loudest cheers of the evening.

The band remarked their excitement about performing on a boat, with Fontaine claiming “this is now OUR boat” leading to renditions of different nautical themed songs. Following their last track ‘Nearly Daffodils’, there were loud demands to hear hit single ‘R&B‘.

Instead, they returned for an encore of LCD Soundsystem’s ‘New York I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down.’ A commendable and bold decision to end a brave and exciting set, English Teacher really do live up to their well deserved hype.

The band are back in Bristol at SWX on 21st November 2024 on their biggest tour yet.

Get tickets here.

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