This 'wood & wire' incarnation of Therapy?'s 'best of' isn't just a gig, but more like old friends turning up at your house with a bag of beers and playing in front of your best pals. Andy Cairns and Michael McKeegan are seated alongside drummer Neil Cooper, candles set a mellow, relaxing atmosphere as they appear for the first of two stripped down acoustic sets in The Brudenell.
Opening with ‘Trigger Inside’, this first set largely omits the ‘hits’ and instead dusts off a few rarer Therapy? gems. ‘Evil Elvis’ for example, a b-side to ’94’s single ‘Die Laughing’. ’Skyward’ from their debut mini album ‘Baby Teeth’, as well as more recent tracks from albums of the past few years - ’Tides’ (‘Disquiet’) and the ‘Living In The Shadow Of A Terrible Thing’ (‘A Brief Crack Of Light’), the latter dedicated to the disgraced Harvey Weinstein. The band are in typical Therapy? playful mood and what sets this night apart from other live Therapy? nights are the anecdotes that pour freely from Andy Cairns between songs throughout the evening. This particular Northern Irishman tells a cracking story or ten, and looking back over some wild Therapy? years he lays bare many honest truths about the rock and roll life of a band.
A brief interlude to allow us to recharge glasses and they’re back for a second set. Take your pick here from any one of Therapy’s finest moments in their almost thirty year back catalogue. ‘Knives’, ‘Potato Junkie’, ’Turn’, ’Stories’ all lovingly coated in softer versions of their former glory. Therapy? wisely never forget to whom they are playing in front of, and Leeds has plenty for them to be thankful for. Be that the original goth rockers Sisters Of Mercy (who they recently toured with), or a memorable night with No Means No and Silverfish at the polytechnic back in ’91, providing more tales of on the road substance disorder.
Hüsker Dü’s ‘Diane’ is a real tear jerker of a cover in any Therapy? set, even more so tonight with it’s dedication to the recently deceased Grant Hart’s passing. The loudest crowd participation from within the Brudenell’s walls come for the final numbers of ‘Screamager’ and ‘Die Laughing’. Leeds are in good voice and the three Therapy? lads appreciate this. It's a fine relationship which has stood the test of time, ridden the rocky years and now flourishes stronger than ever.
With another new album already in the making for release next year, Therapy?' continue to be the light we need in these times of darkness. And our preferred darkness when we feel the need to shut out the light.
With another new album already in the making for release next year, Therapy?' continue to be the light we need in these times of darkness. And our preferred darkness when we feel the need to shut out the light.
