Live Review | IDLES @ O2 Apollo, Manchester

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IDLES’ gig at Manchester’s O2 Apollo felt like a celebration of everything the city represents: music, resilience, and community

Few bands manage to balance raw power, vulnerability, and a quick sense of humour quite like IDLES.

An easy highlight of the gig was guitarist Mark Bowen, perched atop the crowd like a figure from a Renaissance painting, adorned in striking magenta frills. The theatricality was nothing short of biblical, a fitting image for a band whose live performances border on the sacred for their fans. Shortly after this, the echoes of Mancunian hymns like Oasis and The Smiths were sang by the band and crowd, their playful banter creating an irresistible charm.

A highlight of the night was ‘Mother,’ a ferocious anthem that has evolved into a rallying anti-Tory cry. This call to arms was well received by the 3000-strong audience, well received in a city which holds rebellion and resistance at its core.

IDLES’ openness about their politics has set them apart from many other bands; they wear their “soft left” ideology on their sleeves, embodying a Billy Bragg-esque fusion of activism and artistry. True to their ethos of rejecting toxic masculinity, frontman Joe Talbot shared moments of vulnerability, speaking candidly about his struggles with loss, criticism, and mental health. In these quiet interludes, the band’s commitment to dismantling outdated masculinity norms spilled through, creating a space where both rage and tenderness coexist.

Songs like ‘Danny Nedelko‘ reminded everyone why Idles are so essential. Electric, powerful, and consistently relevant, it ignited the crowd with its rallying cry for unity and acceptance. Yet it was the softer moments that left the audience in awe. The special performance of ‘The Beachland Ballroom‘ showcased the band’s poetic lyricism and sonic evolution. With its heavy guitar bassline sweetened by a synthetic string-like backing, the song’s crescendo at the chorus—“I made, I made, I made”—ricocheted around the theatre, an unrelenting serenade.

Listen to IDLES’ new remix of ‘POP POP POP’ featuring Danny Brown here:

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