More about: Nothing But Thieves

Dynamic Essex five-piece Nothing But Thieves have been hitting home runs recently. With a top-five album, multiple main stage festival slots, and an inspired Rag'N'Bone Man collaboration to their name, the Southend-On-Sea rockers are rightfully buzzed to get their bestselling new album and equally successful follow-up EP on the road.

In London's colossal O2 arena—setting for the band's biggest gig to date—the lights dim, the crowd roar and the 'Impossible' hit-makers set sail on a sprightly career-spanning set. 

The high energy is indisputable from the outset. Shared jubilance amongst the band is apparent: a show of this scale has been within their sights for some time. New single 'Futureproof', taken from the recently released EP Moral Panic II, establishes the precedent for the evening and the upbeat intensity seldom lessens.

Shifting up a gear, lead singer Conor Mason, dressed in a multi-coloured combat tracksuit, bounces across the stage to the hard-hitting riff of 'I Was Just a Kid'. Gripping the microphone much like a person possessed, Mason's fierce passion for performance and skill dictating the stage is admirable. 'Sorry' sees the biggest cheer of the evening: the emotional earnestness behind its tender lyrics speaks to several audience members, with the expected sea of phones and lighters sentimentally swaying side to side in unison, filling the giant room. 

Multiple 'thank you's' follow each song, and each band member's beaming smiles to one another throughout are touching to witness. As neat as the music is, the show stumbles with its shortage of humour and playfulness. Whilst the enthusiasm is rife and a joy to behold during songs, it's discernible they aren't au fait with off-the-cuff chatter and tend to jump from one track to the next with little banter or fan interaction. Nevertheless, Nothing But Thieves bound with confidence through the set and the absence of small-talk can be forgiven, for they are seemingly still finding their arena-playing feet. 

It's taken a decade for their brand of indie-rock to reach such heights. Their clinical execution of riff-heavy vivaciousness is a sign they're now a well-oiled machine. A set-list crafted of fan favourites ('Graveyard Whistling'), deep cuts ('Your Blood') and mosh-pit makers ('Is Everybody Going Crazy') Nothing But Thieves do what is required and wished for of a rock show. With the behemoth of North Greenwich now another notch in their live-circuit belt, their upwards rollercoaster of a journey to the big-time continues. 

More about: Nothing But Thieves